The team's pitiful performance cost them the championship.
pitiful attempt
Frequency:
50
%
Her pitiful attempt at singing left the audience unimpressed.
pitiful excuse
Frequency:
45
%
His absence from work was a pitiful excuse.
Idiomatic Expressions for pitiful
Phrase: pitifully small
Meaning: extremely small or inadequate in size or quantity
Usage: The portion size at the restaurant was pitifully small, leaving us hungry and disappointed.