elicit pity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "elicit pity" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing an action or situation that provokes feelings of compassion or sympathy in others. Example: "The film's heartbreaking storyline was designed to elicit pity from the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Was Gunn using Sophie to elicit pity?

The New Yorker

He didn't milk his plight to elicit pity.

The New York Times

His cheeks and clothing were too prosperous to elicit pity.

The Guardian - Opinion

Thérèse doesn't need to elicit pity to be an interesting character, but if she doesn't stir the imagination the actress must.

The New York Times

We're 100%." All the ingredients of the misery memoir are present in these tales, yet none of them are retold to elicit pity or even compassion, at least not for the subjects themselves.

The Guardian

Still, that's a distinct improvement on the songs where he complains at length about his life of money, drugs and no-strings sex in the hope to elicit pity.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

And finally, The Groke from the Moomin books by Tove Jansson, who freezes the ground around her and everything she touches, although she elicits pity as well.

The Guardian

The challenge for the actors is not to undermine this by eliciting pity or sympathy; the comforts of sentimentality should not be on offer here.

The Guardian

"When organisations are still under pressure to bring in the fundraising dollars, how are we enabling people in wealthy countries to relate and connect to issues in the global south without eliciting pity, guilt or shame?" The increasing number of mediums you can deliver your message has also made the job of the communicator more difficult.

The Guardian

Fluent speakers appear to perceive PWS as being likeable individuals who are poor communicators, a combination of high-warmth and low-competence that elicits pity and passive harm from listeners according to social psychologists (Cuddy et al., 2008).

Journal of Fluency Disorders

The Clintons are in a bizarre conjugal competition this week to see who can elicit more pity.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to create empathy in your writing, consider the specific emotion you want to evoke. "Elicit pity" is most effective when you want the audience to feel compassion for a character or situation, but be mindful of the potential for manipulative connotations.

Common error

Avoid overly dramatic or sentimental language when trying to "elicit pity". Subtle and genuine portrayals of hardship are far more effective than exaggerated displays of suffering.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "elicit pity" functions as a verb phrase where "elicit" acts as a transitive verb requiring a direct object ("pity"). Ludwig's examples demonstrate how this phrase describes the act of intentionally or unintentionally causing someone to feel compassion. Ludwig AI validates that is perfectly correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "elicit pity" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, used to describe the act of causing someone to feel compassion or sorrow. While its use can sometimes be manipulative, it is often used in news, literature, and everyday conversation to depict genuine emotional responses. Ludwig's examples showcase diverse applications of the phrase, while alternative phrases like "arouse compassion" or "invoke sympathy" offer nuanced ways to express similar sentiments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arouse compassion

Changes the verb to "arouse" and uses the noun "compassion" instead of "pity", implying a deeper level of empathy.

invoke sympathy

Replaces "elicit" with "invoke" and "pity" with "sympathy", suggesting a more direct appeal to feelings of understanding.

generate compassion

Substitutes "elicit" with "generate", focusing on the creation of compassionate feelings.

provoke feelings of sorrow

Replaces the entire phrase with a more descriptive expression that emphasizes the act of causing feelings of sorrow.

draw out empathy

Uses "draw out" to express the action of extracting empathy from someone, suggesting a more subtle approach.

stir up commiseration

Employs "stir up" to convey the act of arousing feelings of commiseration or shared suffering.

inspire feelings of tenderness

Changes the focus to inspiring tenderness, implying a more gentle and affectionate form of pity.

gain sympathy

Shifts the focus from causing pity to acquiring sympathy, implying an effort to obtain understanding.

win compassion

Similar to "gain sympathy", but emphasizes the act of earning compassion through actions or circumstances.

beckon sympathy

Uses "beckon" to illustrate a subtle invitation to sympathize, suggesting a non-demanding appeal.

FAQs

How can I use "elicit pity" in a sentence?

You can use "elicit pity" to describe actions or situations that cause others to feel compassion or sympathy. For example, "The politician's sob story was a blatant attempt to "elicit pity" from voters".

What phrases are similar to "elicit pity"?

Similar phrases include "arouse compassion", "invoke sympathy", or "generate compassion". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it always negative to "elicit pity"?

Not necessarily. While "elicit pity" can be used negatively to describe manipulative behavior, it can also describe genuine emotional responses to unfortunate situations. Context is key.

What's the difference between "elicit pity" and "elicit sympathy"?

While closely related, "pity" often implies a sense of condescension or feeling sorry for someone, whereas "elicit sympathy" suggests a shared understanding and compassion. "Sympathy" generally carries a more positive connotation.