2 meanings, 9 uses
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1 —1 use as in:
Her pathetic look saddened us.
Definition
pitiful (arousing pity)
- I don't let myself say to him what I'd like to, that he probably deserved whatever she did, but he's just too pathetic-looking.Chapter 13 (16% in)
pathetic = pitiful
There are no more uses of "pathetic" flagged with this meaning in The Help.
Typical Usage
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2 —1 use as in:
a pathetic attempt to insult me
Definition
very bad — possibly so bad it is laughable (possibly mixed with some feeling of pity)
- calling the governor 'a pathetic man with the morals of a streetwalker.'Chapter 19 (7% in)
pathetic = so bad he is laughable
There are no more uses of "pathetic" flagged with this meaning in The Help.
Typical Usage
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? —7 uses
exact meaning not specified
- But they don't know what a pathetic mess I turn into when Leroy's beating on me.Chapter 32 (72% in)
- Now that all his good ole boy, tough bourbon talk has evaporated, I wonder if he's this pathetic all the time.Chapter 13 (17% in)
- "Pathetic," the Senator says, now turning to my father.Chapter 20 (52% in)
- " He crumples in on himself, this gigantic bull of a man, and I want to escape and reassure him at the same time, he looks so pathetic, but then he looks up at me with his bloodshot eyes, says, "Seems like ten minutes ago I was showing him how to load his first rifle, wring his first dove-bird.Chapter 20 (80% in)
- And then he starts to walk away, a pathetic wobbly thing.Chapter 24 (48% in)
- It's pathetic, but I'm glad to still have the newsletter.Chapter 27 (26% in)
- Pathetic...Missus Stein called it.Chapter 28 (90% in)
There are no more uses of "pathetic" in The Help.
Typical Usage
(best examples)