What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pathetic
Example
The homeless man's situation was truly pathetic. [pathetic: adjective]
Example
The team's performance was pathetic, losing by a large margin. [pathetic: adjective]
Example
He made a pathetic attempt at fixing the car. [pathetic: adjective]
miserable
Example
She felt miserable after the breakup. [miserable: adjective]
Example
The weather was so miserable that we had to cancel our plans. [miserable: adjective]
Example
Living in poverty can be a miserable experience. [miserable: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Miserable is more commonly used than pathetic in everyday language, as it covers a wider range of contexts and is more intense in its meaning.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pathetic and miserable?
Both pathetic and miserable can be used in formal and informal contexts, but pathetic may be perceived as more informal due to its colloquial usage in some contexts.
