adj
empathetic
ehm-puh-THEH-tihk
Empathetic (adj) means showing an understanding of and sensitivity toward other people's feelings. Example: “The nurse was calm and empathetic with anxious patients.”
adj
1
Showing an understanding of and sensitivity toward other people's feelings.
"The nurse was calm and empathetic with anxious patients."
"A good manager needs to be empathetic when staff are struggling."
How to use empathetic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGood at understanding and sharing how other people feel.
Common mistake
Both "empathetic" and "empathic" are correct and mean the same thing — "empathetic" is simply more common in everyday use.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
empathetic listener
empathetic response
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more empathetic
- Superlative
- most empathetic
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."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for empathetic
See all 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.
