sympathetic
4 synonyms and 0 antonyms for sympathetic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Showing understanding, care, or compassion for someone else's feelings or situation.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
How to use sympathetic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
Traced back to Greek sympathetikos, related to sympatheia, "fellow feeling" — built from syn- ("together") + pathos ("feeling").
Full origin of sympathetic →Frequently asked questions
What does “sympathetic” mean?
The word “sympathetic” means showing understanding, care, or compassion for someone else's feelings or situation. In plain terms, caring and understanding toward someone's feelings, or supportive of an idea.
How do you pronounce “sympathetic”?
“Sympathetic” is pronounced sihm-puh-THEHT-ihk (/ˌsɪm.pəˈθɛt.ɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “sympathetic” in a sentence?
Here is “sympathetic” used in a sentence: “The nurse was sympathetic to the frightened patient.”
What part of speech is “sympathetic”?
“Sympathetic” is an adjective.
Where does the word “sympathetic” come from?
The word “sympathetic” comes from Greek. Traced back to Greek sympathetikos, related to sympatheia, "fellow feeling" — built from syn- ("together") + pathos ("feeling").
Is “sympathetic” a common word?
“Sympathetic” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “sympathetic” have?
“Sympathetic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: showing understanding, care, or compassion for someone else's feelings or situation.
What is the difference between sympathetic and empathetic?
Sympathetic describes showing understanding, care, or compassion for someone else's feelings or situation, often from an outside perspective, while empathetic implies more directly sharing or understanding those feelings as if experiencing them oneself. Sympathetic can also describe being favourable toward an idea or cause, a sense empathetic does not carry.
Can sympathetic describe support for an idea rather than a person?
Yes, sympathetic can describe being favourable or supportive toward an idea, cause, or plan, not just showing compassion for a person's feelings. For example, someone can be 'sympathetic to a proposal'.
What is the opposite of a sympathetic response?
The opposite of a sympathetic response is one that is indifferent, dismissive, or unsupportive of another person's feelings or situation. A sympathetic response instead shows understanding, care, or compassion.