empathetic
Empathetic (adj) means showing an understanding of and sensitivity toward other people's feelings. Example: “The nurse was calm and empathetic with anxious patients.”
How to Use Empathetic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGood at understanding and sharing how other people feel.
Both "empathetic" and "empathic" are correct and mean the same thing — "empathetic" is simply more common in everyday use.
Word Forms
more empathetic comparative, most empathetic superlative
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The nurse was calm and _____ with anxious patients.
Etymology
A later variant of "empathic," reshaped to sound closer to "sympathetic."
Rhymes for empathetic
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “empathetic” mean?
The word “empathetic” means showing an understanding of and sensitivity toward other people's feelings. In plain terms, good at understanding and sharing how other people feel.
How do you pronounce “empathetic”?
“Empathetic” is pronounced ehm-puh-THEH-tihk (/ˌɛmpəˈθɛtɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “empathetic” in a sentence?
Here is “empathetic” used in a sentence: “The nurse was calm and empathetic with anxious patients.”
What part of speech is “empathetic”?
“Empathetic” is an adjective.