Pity vs. Sad — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 30, 2024
Pity involves feeling sorrow for someone else's misfortune, whereas sadness is a personal emotional state of unhappiness.
Difference Between Pity and Sad
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Pity is an emotion directed towards the misfortune of others, typically evoking a sense of compassion or sympathy. Whereas, sadness is a personal emotional experience that involves feeling unhappy, often as a result of specific circumstances affecting oneself.
Pity often leads individuals to offer comfort or assistance to those they pity, underscoring a relational aspect where one party perceives another's situation as unfortunate. On the other hand, sadness is introspective, focusing on one's own feelings and experiences without necessarily involving others.
Pity can sometimes carry a condescending or pitying tone, suggesting a hierarchical relationship between the one who pities and the one who is pitied. Whereas, sadness is universally experienced and does not imply any superiority or judgment towards others.
While pity might be triggered by witnessing distressing events or learning about someone else’s adversity, sadness can be triggered by personal loss, disappointment, or other emotionally impactful experiences directly affecting an individual.
In terms of expression, pity might be conveyed through actions like comforting words or gestures, highlighting an external display of concern. Conversely, sadness might manifest through crying, withdrawal, or a subdued demeanor, reflecting an internal state of despair.
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Comparison Chart
Focus
Others' misfortune
Personal emotional state
Nature
Compassionate, sometimes condescending
Introspective, personal
Emotional Trigger
External situations of others
Personal experiences
Typical Expression
Comforting words, gestures
Crying, withdrawal
Relation to Others
Involves an element of judgment
Self-focused, no judgment
Compare with Definitions
Pity
Expression of regret or sorrow not necessarily involving respect.
“What a pity!” she exclaimed upon seeing the broken vase.
Sad
Reaction to sorrowful or disappointing events.
The sadness after losing the game lasted for days.
Pity
Feeling of sorrow for the distress of others.
She felt a deep pity for the abandoned puppies.
Sad
State of being unhappy.
There was a profound sadness in his eyes.
Pity
Conditional compassion based on one's situation.
Pity filled her when she saw the old man struggle.
Sad
Often accompanied by tears or quiet reflection.
In her sadness, she wrote him a heartfelt letter.
Pity
A condescending form of sorrow.
He viewed their amateur efforts with a certain pity.
Sad
A mood of low spirits, often without a specific cause.
He spent the day in sadness, not knowing why he felt so down.
Pity
Sympathy that often leads to help or support.
Moved by pity, he volunteered at the shelter.
Sad
Emotional pain associated with, or characterized by, feelings of disadvantage.
Her sadness was palpable when she spoke of her departure.
Pity
Pity is a sympathetic sorrow evoked by the suffering of others, and is used in a comparable sense to compassion, condolence or empathy - the word deriving from the Latin pietās (etymon also of piety). Self-pity is pity directed towards oneself.
Sad
Feeling or showing sorrow; unhappy
They looked at her with sad, anxious faces
I was sad and subdued
Pity
Sympathy and sorrow aroused by the misfortune or suffering of another.
Sad
Pathetically inadequate or unfashionable
The show is tongue-in-cheek—anyone who takes it seriously is a bit sad
Pity
A matter of regret
It's a pity she can't attend the reception.
Sad
(of dough) heavy through having failed to rise.
Pity
To feel pity for or on account of
"No, he could not believe it a bad house.
Not such a house as a man was to be pitied for having" (Jane Austen). "An office worker pitied his confinement and slipped in to give him a loaf of bread" (Eric Scigliano).
Sad
Showing, expressing, or feeling sorrow or unhappiness
A sad face.
Pity
To feel pity.
Sad
Causing sorrow or gloom; depressing
A sad movie.
Sad news.
Pity
(uncountable) A feeling of sympathy at the misfortune or suffering of someone or something.
I can't feel any pity towards the gang, who got injured while attempting to break into a flat.
Take pity on someone
Sad
Deplorable or inadequate; sorry
A sad state of affairs.
A sad excuse.
Pity
(countable) Something regrettable.
It's a pity you're feeling unwell because there's a party on tonight.
What a pity about the band breaking up. I loved them!
Sad
Dark-hued; somber.
Pity
(obsolete) Piety.
Sad
(heading) Emotionally negative.
Pity
(transitive) To feel pity for (someone or something).
You have got to pity the guy - he lost his wife, mother and job in the same month.
Sad
Feeling sorrow; sorrowful, mournful.
She gets sad when he's away.
Pity
To make (someone) feel pity; to provoke the sympathy or compassion of.
Sad
Appearing sorrowful.
The puppy had a sad little face.
Pity
Short form of what a pity.
Sad
Causing sorrow; lamentable.
It's a sad fact that most rapes go unreported.
Pity
Piety.
Sad
Poor in quality, bad; shameful, deplorable; later, regrettable, poor.
That's the saddest-looking pickup truck I've ever seen.
Pity
A feeling for the sufferings or distresses of another or others; sympathy with the grief or misery of another; compassion; fellow-feeling; commiseration.
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord.
He . . . has no more pity in him than a dog.
Sad
Of colours: dark, deep; later, sombre, dull.
Pity
A reason or cause of pity, grief, or regret; a thing to be regretted.
What pity is itThat we can die but once to serve our country!
Sad
(obsolete) Sated, having had one's fill; satisfied, weary.
Pity
To feel pity or compassion for; to have sympathy with; to compassionate; to commiserate; to have tender feelings toward (any one), awakened by a knowledge of suffering.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
Sad
(obsolete) Steadfast, valiant.
Pity
To move to pity; - used impersonally.
It pitieth them to see her in the dust.
Sad
(obsolete) Dignified, serious, grave.
Pity
To be compassionate; to show pity.
I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy.
Sad
(obsolete) Naughty; troublesome; wicked.
Pity
A feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others;
The blind are too often objects of pity
Sad
(slang) Unfashionable; socially inadequate or undesirable.
I can't believe you use drugs; you're so sad!
Pity
An unfortunate development;
It's a pity he couldn't do it
Sad
(dialect) Soggy (to refer to pastries).
Pity
The humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it
Sad
(obsolete) Heavy; weighty; ponderous; close; hard.
Pity
Share the suffering of
Sad
To make melancholy; to sadden or grieve (someone).
Sad
Sated; satisfied; weary; tired.
Yet of that art they can not waxen sad,For unto them it is a bitter sweet.
Sad
Heavy; weighty; ponderous; close; hard.
His hand, more sad than lump of lead.
Chalky lands are naturally cold and sad.
Sad
Dull; grave; dark; somber; - said of colors.
Woad, or wade, is used by the dyers to lay the foundation of all sad colors.
Sad
Serious; grave; sober; steadfast; not light or frivolous.
Lady Catharine, a sad and religious woman.
Which treaty was wisely handled by sad and discrete counsel of both parties.
Sad
Affected with grief or unhappiness; cast down with affliction; downcast; gloomy; mournful.
First were we sad, fearing you would not come;Now sadder, that you come so unprovided.
The angelic guards ascended, mute and sad.
Sad
Afflictive; calamitous; causing sorrow; as, a sad accident; a sad misfortune.
Sad
Hence, bad; naughty; troublesome; wicked.
Sad
To make sorrowful; to sadden.
How it sadded the minister's spirits!
Sad
Seasonal affective disorder.
Sad
Experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness;
Feeling sad because his dog had died
Better by far that you should forget and smile / Than that you should remember and be sad
Sad
Bad; unfortunate;
My finances were in a deplorable state
A lamentable decision
Her clothes were in sad shape
A sorry state of affairs
Common Curiosities
What are common expressions of pity?
Common expressions of pity include comforting gestures, verbal expressions of concern, and offers to help.
Can pity be seen as negative?
Yes, pity can sometimes be viewed as condescending or implying a sense of superiority over someone else.
Can sadness lead to depression?
If persistent and unaddressed, sadness can contribute to the development of depression.
What triggers pity?
Pity is triggered by observing or understanding someone else's misfortune or distress.
What are typical reactions to personal sadness?
Typical reactions include crying, withdrawing from social interaction, and reflecting on the causes of unhappiness.
How does sadness affect an individual?
Sadness affects individuals by causing feelings of unhappiness and a decreased mood, often impacting daily activities.
How do people typically respond to someone else's pity?
Responses can vary; some may appreciate the compassion, while others might feel undermined or pitied.
Does pity require action?
Pity does not necessarily require action, though it often motivates offers of help or support.
Is sadness always related to personal experiences?
Yes, sadness typically arises from personal experiences or internal reflections.
Is pity helpful or harmful?
Pity can be helpful when it leads to supportive actions, but harmful if it makes the recipient feel powerless or looked down upon.
Can sadness be a shared emotion?
While sadness is a personal emotion, it can be shared or understood among individuals who have had similar experiences.
What differentiates pity from empathy?
Pity involves feeling sorry for someone, whereas empathy involves understanding and sharing the feelings of another.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
