Meaning & use
deepest sympathies
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseformal
A formal expression of sorrow and support for someone who has suffered a death or great misfortune.
Grammar: Used as a complete polite statement, often with a possessive: my/our deepest sympathies.
Patterns
- my deepest sympathies
- our deepest sympathies
- deepest sympathies to someone
- extend your deepest sympathies
Our deepest sympathies go to the family at this sad time.
She offered her deepest sympathies to the widow after the funeral.
The manager sent a card with the words 'With deepest sympathies'.
Common combinations
- offer your deepest sympathies
- We offer our deepest sympathies to all those affected by the fire.
- extend your deepest sympathies
- The president extended his deepest sympathies to the victims' families.
- with deepest sympathies
- The card simply said, 'With deepest sympathies.'
- my deepest sympathies
- My deepest sympathies are with you and your children.
Synonyms and how they differ
- condolences
- A more general word for expressing sadness when someone dies; often used in the phrase 'send my condolences'.
- heartfelt sympathy
- Similar but slightly less formal and more emotional, focusing on sincere feeling.
Commonly confused: deepest sympathies or deepest sympathy?
deepest sympathies vs deepest sympathy
The singular form 'deepest sympathy' is sometimes used in formal writing, but the plural 'deepest sympathies' is the usual fixed expression.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Sent her deepest sympathies to the family' is the correct pattern: you offer or send sympathies to people who are grieving. The other options use the phrase in contexts or structures where it does not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “deepest sympathies”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.