pathetic excuse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pathetic excuse" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a weak or inadequate justification or reason for something. Example: After missing his fifth deadline, the student gave a pathetic excuse about forgetting to save his work, but the teacher was not convinced.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's a pathetic excuse.

Independent

But current brain science affords me a less pathetic excuse.

The New Yorker

Mayor of London says there is "no reason to be alarmed!" Pathetic excuse.

The Washington Post

I think Mail Online would take heart from this pathetic excuse for a failure to credit.

The Guardian

7.03pm BST That pathetic excuse for a leaderboard is already out of date.

The Guardian - Sport

What a British official called "this pathetic excuse" was greeted with a flood of condemnation in London and Dublin.

The New York Times

Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his "no reason to be alarmed" statement.

The Telegraph

Mo Mowlam, the Northern Ireland secretary at the time, described called the statement as "a pathetic excuse for mass murder".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

The pathetic excuses of Olympian also-rans become the "OFFICIAL PATHETIC ALIBI OF THE 1996 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES".

The New Yorker

If the attack on Nemeth had happened on the street, outside of Nemeth's apartment, then nobody would care about the pathetic excuses of her attacker.

Independent

Their pathetic excuses this year were about everything being terrible, a time of profound public and political loss, and they were just trying to make everything better.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pathetic excuse" when you want to express strong disapproval or disbelief in a justification. It's more impactful than simply saying "bad excuse."

Common error

While "pathetic excuse" is widely understood, avoid using it in formal or professional writing. Opt for phrases like "unconvincing justification" or "inadequate explanation" instead to maintain a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pathetic excuse" functions as a noun phrase where "pathetic" modifies the noun "excuse". It serves to characterize a reason or justification as inadequate, weak, and deserving of scorn. Examples from Ludwig show it used to dismiss explanations as insufficient or insincere.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pathetic excuse" is a commonly used phrase to describe a justification deemed inadequate or contemptible. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use, particularly in news and media. While effective for expressing disapproval, remember that its informality makes it unsuitable for professional or academic contexts. Instead, consider alternatives like "unconvincing justification" or "inadequate explanation" in formal settings. Remember to use "pathetic excuse" when you aim to strongly dismiss a given reason as weak or insincere. Its function is to express ridicule or contempt regarding some justification, in fact Ludwig's examples shows that it is usually used for this purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wretched excuse

Replaces "pathetic" with a stronger term implying moral deficiency, heightening the sense of inadequacy.

lamentable excuse

Substitutes "pathetic" with "lamentable", emphasizing the regrettable nature of the justification.

pathetic alibi

Uses "alibi" instead of "excuse", suggesting a deliberate attempt to conceal wrongdoing.

poor excuse

Replaces "pathetic" with "poor", indicating a basic lack of quality or validity.

lousy excuse

Uses "lousy" instead of "pathetic", conveying a sense of contempt for the given reason.

ridiculous excuse

Replaces "pathetic" with "ridiculous", highlighting the absurdity of the justification.

miserable excuse

Substitutes "pathetic" with "miserable", emphasizing the inadequacy and disappointment of the excuse.

dismal excuse

Uses "dismal" instead of "pathetic", underscoring the depressing and inadequate nature of the explanation.

laughable excuse

Implies the excuse is so bad it's worthy of ridicule.

unconvincing justification

Focuses on the lack of persuasive power in the reason given.

FAQs

How can I use "pathetic excuse" in a sentence?

You can use "pathetic excuse" to describe a weak or inadequate justification for something. For example, "His claim that he missed the deadline due to a power outage was a pathetic excuse".

What are some alternatives to "pathetic excuse"?

You can use alternatives like "wretched excuse", "poor excuse", or "lousy excuse" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "pathetic excuse" in formal writing?

While widely understood, "pathetic excuse" is generally too informal for academic or business writing. Consider using more neutral alternatives like "unconvincing justification" or "inadequate explanation".

What's the difference between "pathetic excuse" and "poor excuse"?

Both phrases indicate a weak justification, but "pathetic excuse" carries a stronger connotation of contempt or derision, suggesting the excuse is not only weak but also laughable or pitiable. "Poor excuse" is more neutral.