adjective

piteous

PIT-ee-us/ˈpɪtiəs/

Showing suffering or distress in a way that arouses pity.

The wet puppy looks piteous beneath the broken cardboard shelter.

Small wet stray puppy huddles beneath a broken cardboard shelter edge, drooping ears and sorrowful eyes; sparse puddle and rain strokes localized around puppy, broad white margins, no injury.

Etymology

The compassion in pietas underlies both “merciful” and “arousing pity,” meanings found in piteous. In the selected sense, the focus is on what calls compassion forth rather than on the person showing it.

In context

Libranima375:20

So vehement and so piteous were the lamentations of Claudia that they drew tears from Roque’s eyes

Don Quixote - Cervantes (Illustrated Audiobook) Part 4 of 4

More examples

The child gives his mother a piteous look.
She describes the piteous condition of the abandoned horses.
Piteous moans come from the man trapped under the wreckage.

Forms

piteous

piteously adverb — In a way that arouses pity.

Similar words

pitiful: Often describes a miserable condition, not just visible distress.
pathetic: Can imply contempt or inadequacy rather than genuine compassion.
plaintive: Emphasizes a mournful sound rather than a suffering appearance.