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Tragedy vs Pathetic - What's the difference?

tragedy | pathetic |

As a noun tragedy

is a drama or similar work, in which the main character is brought to ruin or otherwise suffers the extreme consequences of some tragic flaw or weakness of character.

As an adjective pathetic is

arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion.

tragedy

Alternative forms

* (archaic) * (l) (archaic) * (archaic) * (l) (archaic) * (l) (archaic)

Noun

(tragedies)
  • A drama or similar work, in which the main character is brought to ruin or otherwise suffers the extreme consequences of some tragic flaw or weakness of character.
  • The genre of such works, and the art of producing them.
  • A disastrous event, especially one involving great loss of life or injury.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1905, author=
  • , title= , chapter=1 citation , passage=“The story of this adoption is, of course, the pivot round which all the circumstances of the mysterious tragedy revolved. Mrs. Yule had an only son, namely, William, to whom she was passionately attached ; but, like many a fond mother, she had the desire of mapping out that son's future entirely according to her own ideas. […]”}}

    Antonyms

    * comedy

    Derived terms

    * tragedian * tragedy of the commons * tragic * tragic irony * tragicomedy

    Anagrams

    *

    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