Negative connotations:
* Pitiful: Emphasizes a sense of sadness and sorrow.
* Wretched: Describes something extremely unpleasant or unsatisfactory.
* Lamentable: Expresses deep regret or disapproval.
* Miserable: Suggests extreme unhappiness or discomfort.
* Deplorable: Expresses strong disapproval and condemnation.
* Despicable: Conveys extreme disgust and contempt.
* Contemptible: Similar to "despicable," highlighting the worthlessness of something.
* Meagre: Indicates a lack of quality or quantity.
* Paltry: Emphasizes the insignificance or smallness of something.
* Squalid: Describes something that is dirty, neglected, and unpleasant.
* Abject: Conveys complete and utter misery or degradation.
Neutral connotations:
* Pitiable: Emphasizes the object of pity without judgment.
* Unfortunate: Indicates something bad or unlucky happened.
* Sad: A simple and straightforward way to describe a negative emotion.
* Poor: Can be used to describe something of low quality or in a bad state.
Positive connotations:
* Touching: Describes something that evokes a sense of tenderness or emotion.
* Moving: Similar to "touching," but emphasizes the impact on the observer.
The best word to use will depend on the specific situation and the emotion you want to convey.