Which word describes something that provokes feelings of sadness or pity?

The term you're looking for that describes something that provokes feelings of sadness or pity is "pathetic." This word often conveys a sense of sympathy or compassion for a situation or person that elicits sorrow. It indicates a sense of vulnerability or helplessness, which resonates emotionally with individuals, making them feel pity.

In literature and conversation, "pathetic" can be used to describe conditions or circumstances that are deeply moving and draw out empathetic feelings from others. The emotional response it invokes is linked closely to how we interpret the experiences of others as being sorrowful or dismal.

Other terms, while related to sadness, carry slightly different connotations. "Tragic" relates specifically to a disaster or misfortune, often involving a serious or grave outcome. "Wretched" describes a state of great distress or misery but doesn’t inherently call upon pity; it can also imply a state of being that results from one’s own actions. "Lamentable" refers to something that is regrettable or deserving of grief; it highlights the sorrowful aspect but lacks the immediate emotional connection of "pathetic" in terms of eliciting pity.