What is the meaning of pathetic?

adjective

• Deserving or inciting pity.
  • usage: "a hapless victim"; "miserable victims of war"; "the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic- Galsworthy; "piteous appeals for help"; "pitiable homeless children"; "a pitiful fate"; "Oh, you poor thing"; "his poor distorted limbs"; "a wretched life"
  • synonyms: hapless, miserable, misfortunate, piteous, pitiable, pitiful, poor, wretched
• Inspiring mixed contempt and pity.
  • usage: "their efforts were pathetic"; "pitiable lack of character"; "pitiful exhibition of cowardice"
  • synonyms: pitiable, pitiful
• Inspiring scornful pity."how silly an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years- Dashiell Hammett
  • synonyms: ridiculous, silly