full of pity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "full of pity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who feels a strong sense of compassion or sorrow for someone else's misfortune. Example: "She looked at the homeless man on the street, her heart full of pity for his situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Cawood smiles, her face hard and full of pity.

The New Yorker

It begins with a warning: My heart is full of pity for you, oh young academic politician.

The Guardian

The same is true of the novels, so keenly observant, so cold-eyed, so full of pity for all that is most melancholy.

The Guardian - Books

Full of pity, one phoenix flew north to help, and soon flowers bloomed, crops thrived, and a city came into being.

The New Yorker

I think I've written very sympathetically about Africa in a very hard way but full of pity and not seeing the easy way out".

The New York Times - Books

On the farther side of the field, just beyond the curtains of snow, the sky was torn away and the angels were descending out of a brilliant blue summer, their huge faces streaked with light and full of pity.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The emotions of the family are Englander's chief concern here, and Kaddish, the character with the clever name, becomes a man for whom we feel a full measure of pity.

The New Yorker

One feature of our world is that you can feel the full range of pity and horror and detachment and guilt that panels on war journalism held in comfortable auditoriums evoke, even when the war is being fought a few score miles away.

The New Yorker

The sort of face that looks full of self pity, but also arrogant at the same time.

The Guardian

How, he wonders, could a man who professed such contempt for humanity write songs "so full of chastening pity for the human condition"?

The Guardian - Books

Best is Alan Dobie as the Achean herald who brings Hecuba news of her daughter's death: grizzled and sombre, Dobie makes every word hit home; his final line, "you've got the best of children, and the worst of fates", is full of monumental pity.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "full of pity" to convey a sense of deep compassion or sorrow for someone's suffering. It can effectively illustrate a character's emotional response in literature or describe a general feeling in journalistic writing.

Common error

While "full of pity" effectively conveys empathy, avoid overusing emotionally charged phrases. Balance it with more objective descriptions to maintain credibility and prevent sentimentality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "full of pity" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, typically describing someone's emotional state. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase follows standard grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "full of pity" is a grammatically sound and understandable way to express a feeling of compassion or sorrow, as Ludwig AI confirms. It appears most often in news and media contexts and to a lesser extent in scientific and formal business writing. When using this phrase, consider alternative phrasing to achieve precision or prevent the creation of overly sentimental content. While the phrase itself is appropriate for many settings, awareness of connotation can ensure you convey the correct message. As such, while the expression is valid, writers should consider the implications of its use in order to best serve their intent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

filled with compassion

Emphasizes the feeling of deep sympathy and concern for someone's suffering.

overcome with sympathy

Highlights the feeling of being deeply affected by another's distress.

moved by compassion

Focuses on the action of compassion being the driving force of emotion.

feeling deep sorrow

Shifts the focus to the internal emotion of sorrow.

heart filled with sorrow

Similar to “full of pity” but uses the word “sorrow” instead.

showing great empathy

Highlights the act of demonstrating understanding and sharing the feelings of another.

displaying compassion

Focuses on outwardly exhibiting empathetic behavior.

having compassion for

Indicates a state of possessing compassionate feelings.

possessed of empathy

A more formal way of saying someone has empathy.

exhibiting heartfelt sympathy

Emphasizes the sincerity and depth of the sympathetic feelings.

FAQs

How can I use "full of pity" in a sentence?

You can use "full of pity" to describe someone who feels compassion or sorrow for another's misfortune. For example: "She looked at the refugees, her heart "full of pity"."

What are some alternatives to "full of pity"?

You can use alternatives like "filled with compassion", "overcome with sympathy", or "moved by compassion" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "full of pity" or "full of compassion"?

Both phrases are correct, but "full of compassion" may be seen as slightly more positive, emphasizing understanding and care, while ""full of pity"" can sometimes imply a sense of condescension or sorrow for someone's misfortune.

Can "full of pity" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "full of pity" can be used in formal writing, but consider the tone and context. In some cases, more neutral or descriptive language might be more appropriate to avoid appearing overly sentimental.