What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pathetically
Example
The team played pathetically and lost the game by a huge margin. [pathetically: adverb]
Example
He tried to fix the sink himself, but his attempt was pathetically amateurish. [pathetically: adverb]
miserably
Example
She failed the exam miserably and felt terrible. [miserably: adverb]
Example
The weather was miserably cold and wet, ruining our outdoor plans. [miserably: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Miserably is more commonly used than pathetically in everyday language. Miserably is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while pathetically is less common and may be considered too informal or negative in some situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pathetically and miserably?
While miserably can be used in both formal and informal contexts, pathetically is more informal and may not be suitable for formal writing or speech.
