compassion
kuhm-PASH-uhn
Compassion (noun) means a deep sense of concern for someone else's suffering, strong enough to make you want to help. Example: “He showed great compassion when his neighbour lost her job and offered to cook for her.”
noun
1
A deep sense of concern for someone else's suffering, strong enough to make you want to help.
"He showed great compassion when his neighbour lost her job and offered to cook for her."
"The nurses treated every patient with compassion, no matter how difficult the case."
"Her compassion for stray animals led her to open a shelter."
How to use compassion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGenuinely caring about someone's pain and being moved to do something about it.
Common mistake
Similar to sympathy, but compassion carries a stronger urge to act and help, not just to feel sorry.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
show compassion
act of compassion
compassion fatigue
treat with compassion
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Word forms
- Plural
- compassions
- Third person singular
- compassions
- Past tense
- compassioned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He showed great _____ when his neighbour lost her job and offered to cook for her.
Etymology
From Latin compati, "to suffer together with" — com- ("together") plus pati ("to suffer"), the same root as "patient" and "passion."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for compassion
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for compassion →
Frequently asked questions
What does “compassion” mean?
The word “compassion” means a deep sense of concern for someone else's suffering, strong enough to make you want to help. In plain terms, genuinely caring about someone's pain and being moved to do something about it.
How do you pronounce “compassion”?
“Compassion” is pronounced kuhm-PASH-uhn (/kəmˈpæʃ.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “compassion” in a sentence?
Here is “compassion” used in a sentence: “The nurses treated every patient with compassion, no matter how difficult the case.”
What is another word for “compassion”?
Words with a similar meaning to “compassion” include empathy, mercy, ruth, pity, sorrow and tenderheartedness.
What is the opposite of “compassion”?
The opposite of “compassion” — its antonyms — are compassionlessness, ruthlessness, pitilessness, uncompassion and unpity.
What part of speech is “compassion”?
“Compassion” is a noun.
Where does the word “compassion” come from?
The word “compassion” comes from Latin. From Latin compati, "to suffer together with" — com- ("together") plus pati ("to suffer"), the same root as "patient" and "passion.".
Is “compassion” a common word?
“Compassion” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between compassion and empathy?
Empathy is the ability to feel or understand what another person is feeling. Compassion goes a step further: it is that concern for someone's suffering combined with a genuine desire to help relieve it.
What is the difference between compassion and sympathy?
Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone from a certain distance, acknowledging their difficulty. Compassion is deeper and more active, involving a heartfelt concern for their suffering that moves you to want to do something about it.
What is the difference between compassion and pity?
Pity can carry a sense of looking down on someone or feeling sorry for them from above. Compassion implies shared concern and respect, focusing on relieving another's suffering rather than simply feeling sorry for them.
What are common collocations with compassion?
Compassion frequently appears in phrases like 'show compassion', 'act of compassion', 'treat someone with compassion', and 'compassion fatigue', which describes the exhaustion carers can feel from constant caring.
