1. a quality that evokes pity or sadness
2. an element in experience or in artistic representation evoking pity or compassion
Usage: literary

Examples

• The pathos of the homeless man’s story moved everyone to tears.
• Shakespeare’s tragedies are filled with pathos and human suffering.
• The documentary captured the pathos of families affected by war.
• There was a deep pathos in her voice as she spoke about her loss.
• The painting conveyed the pathos of poverty through its stark imagery.
• The novel’s pathos lies in its portrayal of broken dreams.
• His speech was full of pathos, appealing to the audience’s emotions.