pitying 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of pityingnext
as in merciful

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pitying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of pity
as in loving
to have sympathy for I always pity the people who have to work in this freezing weather

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pitying
Verb
There is nothing pitying and also nothing airbrushed in the pictures—just the occasional haze of a misty morning or the blurry tremor of a burning brush pile. — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 9 May 2026 Twenty-first-century indie shaped the identities of many Millennials, but it’s now often talked about with pitying nostalgia—as the bygone style of hipsters with handlebar mustaches pretending to be countercultural while making easy-listening music for hotel lobbies. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitying
  1. merciful
  2. loving
  3. tolerant
  4. sympathetic
  5. understanding
  6. patient
  7. forbearing
  8. forgiving
Adjective
  • In this sense, there is a distinct possibility the spear wound was a final, merciful act by someone close to them.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The merciful conclusion of this horrific season officially ends the Mike Krukow era in the Giants broadcast booth.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of merciful
Verb
  • Beneath that Taylor Swift-loving exterior, there must be a Bin Laden fighting to get out.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Anderson’s version of the song that put Georgia Satellites on the map is him at his fun-loving best.
    — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of loving
Adjective
  • The design vision also includes reducing water use through native and drought-tolerant plants.
    — Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • These varietals are not only tolerant to the high desert environment, but they were also planted with the sole purpose of conserving water and controlling run-off.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of tolerant
Adjective
  • Amy Adams’s Chrissie is more sympathetic and less interesting.
    — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The investment in Sasha and Morgan has almost outgrown that of Joanne and Noah, and Lupe is sympathetic to the cause.
    — Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of sympathetic
Adjective
  • Fully understanding how these fragmented droplets interact with airborne vehicles remains a unsolved piece of the puzzle.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Atletico coach Diego Simeone has said publicly that the player has the right to make decisions over his own future, but the Metropolitano fans are unlikely to be so understanding.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Definition of understanding
Adjective
  • After a patient day of defrosting in the fridge, the best part is the pale green marzipan exterior.
    — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Work hour restrictions can’t stand up to the competing pressures of completing the necessary number of procedures to become a safe and competent surgeon while covering other patient care duties.
    — Arifeen Rahman, STAT, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of patient
Adjective
  • With the economy in the doldrums, the public is less forbearing.
    — Jeff Kingston, Time, 4 Oct. 2025
Definition of forbearing
Adjective
  • On ordinary days, the loop is a training ground for runners and cyclists, and an unusually forgiving place for beginners and families.
    — Rick Maese, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Timeless, versatile, and chic, barn jackets strike the right balance between casual and polished while having a looser, more forgiving silhouette that can easily be layered with a sweater, blouse, or long-sleeve shirt on chilly days.
    — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of forgiving

Browse Nearby Words

pity
pitying
pivot
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Cite this Entry

“Pitying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitying. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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