Pathetic vs Useless - What's the difference?
pathetic | useless |
Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion.
Arousing scornful pity or contempt, often due to miserable inadequacy.
* {{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.
Without use or possibility to be used.
Unhelpful, not useful; pointless (of an action).
(pejorative, of a person) good-for-nothing; not dependable.
(colloquial, of a person) unable to do well at a particular task or thing. Useless is mildly insulting.
As adjectives the difference between pathetic and useless
is that pathetic is arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion while useless is without use or possibility to be used.pathetic
English
Alternative forms
* pathetick (archaic) * patheticke (obsolete) * pathetique (obsolete)Adjective
(en adjective)- The old man’s pathetic pleas for forgiveness stirred the young man’s heart.
- 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 .
Synonyms
* (arousing pity) pitiful, wretched, miserable, deplorable, pathetisad * (arousing scorn) disgraceful, shameful, despicable, dishonorableDerived terms
* patheticism * patheticnessExternal links
* *useless
English
Adjective
(en-adj)- This fork has prongs that are bent. It's useless now.
- I think it's useless to keep this discussion going. It's like talking to a wall.
- I tried my best to make him quit smoking, but my efforts were useless . He now smokes six packs a day.
- Bill never mows the lawn, takes out the trash or anything. He's useless , but I love him anyways.
- My brother is useless at most computer games, but he is an awesome PS2 player.
- Why do you keep trying? You're obviously useless at it.