pathos

/ˈpeɪˌθɒs/noun
High School
1

The quality or property of anything which touches the feelings or excites emotions and passions, especially that which awakens tender emotions, such as pity, sorrow, and the like; contagious warmth of feeling, action, or expression; pathetic quality.

2

A form of rhetoric in which the writer or speaker uses emotional appeals to the audience as the main form of persuasion.

3

An author's attempt to evoke a feeling of pity or sympathetic sorrow for a character.

4

In theology and existentialist ethics following Kierkegaard and Heidegger, a deep and abiding commitment of the heart, as in the notion of "finding your passion" as an important aspect of a fully lived, engaged life.

5

Suffering; the enduring of active stress or affliction.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

Sound Patterns & Rhymes

Alliteration

Words starting with the same consonant sound — used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, emphasis, and memorable phrasing (e.g. “Peter Piper picked”)

Assonance

Words sharing similar vowel sounds regardless of starting letter — creates internal melody in writing

Consonance

Words sharing similar consonant sound patterns — adds texture and cohesion to writing