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Pathetic vs Glum - What's the difference?

pathetic | glum |

As an adjective pathetic

is arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion.

As a noun glum is

light.

pathetic

English

Alternative forms

* pathetick (archaic) * patheticke (obsolete) * pathetique (obsolete)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion.
    • The old man’s pathetic pleas for forgiveness stirred the young man’s heart.
  • Arousing scornful pity or contempt, often due to miserable inadequacy.
    • You can't even run two miles? That’s pathetic .
    You're almost 26 years old and you still can't hold a real job? That's pathetic .
  • * {{quote-video, year=2005, title=
    • , passage=Well you'd better think of something because middle-aged tramps aren't cute, they're pathetic .}}
  • (obsolete) Expressing or showing anger; passionate.

    • Synonyms

    * (arousing pity) pitiful, wretched, miserable, deplorable, pathetisad * (arousing scorn) disgraceful, shameful, despicable, dishonorable

    Derived terms

    * patheticism * patheticness

    Related terms

    * pathos

    External links

    * *

    glum

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) glomen, glommen, glomben, . More at (l).

    Verb

    (glumm)
  • (obsolete) To look sullen; to be of a sour countenance; to be glum.
    • (Hawes)

    Noun

    (-)
  • (obsolete) sullenness
    • (Skelton)

    Etymology 2

    Probably from (etyl) . More at (l).

    Adjective

    (glummer)
  • despondent; moody; sullen
  • * Thackeray
    • I frighten people by my glum face.