sympathetic
sihm-puh-THEHT-ihk
Sympathetic (adj) means showing understanding, care, or compassion for someone else's feelings or situation. Example: “The nurse was sympathetic to the frightened patient.”
adj
1
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."
"When I failed the exam, my sister was kind and sympathetic."
2
Favourable or supportive toward an idea, cause, or plan.
"The committee seemed sympathetic to the proposal."
"Local residents are sympathetic to the plan for a new park."
"Is the manager likely to be sympathetic to our request for flexible hours?"
How to use sympathetic
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- sympathetics
- Comparative
- more sympathetic
- Superlative
- most sympathetic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The nurse was _____ to the frightened patient.
Etymology
Traced back to Greek sympathetikos, related to sympatheia, "fellow feeling" — built from syn- ("together") + pathos ("feeling").
Synonyms
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compassionate
understanding
supportive
favourable
benevolent
likable
appealing
kindly
likeable
openhearted
charitable
harmonic
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for sympathetic
See all rhymes for 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.
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