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Pitiful
Emotional Charge
'Pitiful' often carries a strong emotional weight and suggests empathy or sympathy from the speaker. 
Not Always Negative
Although commonly negative, 'pitiful' can be neutral when referring to something that merely invokes pity. 
Enhancing Descriptors
Use with additional descriptors to emphasize the extent of pity, such as 'truly pitiful' or 'somewhat pitiful.' 