adj

sympathetic

sihm-puh-THEHT-ihk

adj

Showing understanding, care, or compassion for someone else's feelings or situation.

"The nurse was sympathetic to the frightened patient."

"He gave her a sympathetic look after hearing the bad news."

Favourable or supportive toward an idea, cause, or plan.

"The committee seemed sympathetic to the proposal."

How to Use Sympathetic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCaring and understanding toward someone's feelings, or supportive of an idea.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "sympathetic nervous system" in biology — same word, but a specialised anatomical meaning unrelated to compassion.

Common pairings

sympathetic to a sympathetic ear sympathetic character

more sympathetic comparative, sympathetics plural, most sympathetic superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The nurse was _____ to the frightened patient.

Traced back to Greek sympathetikos, related to sympatheia, "fellow feeling" — built from syn- ("together") + pathos ("feeling").

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