Meaning & use
deepest sympathy
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phraseformal
A formal way of saying you feel very sorry for someone who has lost a close relative or friend.
Grammar: Often used in 'my/our deepest sympathy' or 'deepest sympathies'; it usually follows verbs like 'offer', 'express', or 'send'.
Patterns
- offer someone your deepest sympathy
- express your deepest sympathy to someone
- send your deepest sympathies
We offer our deepest sympathy to his wife and children.
She wrote to express her deepest sympathy after hearing the news.
Please accept my deepest sympathies at this sad time.
phrasefixed phraseformal
Used to say you are very sorry about a serious problem or loss that is not a death.
Grammar: Less common than the condolence use; it still sounds formal and serious.
Patterns
- have the deepest sympathy for someone
Our staff have the deepest sympathy for everyone who lost a home in the flood.
He expressed his deepest sympathy for the families affected by the accident.
Common combinations
- offer your deepest sympathy
- The whole team would like to offer their deepest sympathy.
- express your deepest sympathy
- She stood up to express her deepest sympathy on behalf of the students.
- send your deepest sympathies
- We are sending our deepest sympathies to his family.
- accept my deepest sympathy
- Please accept my deepest sympathy at this difficult time.
- our deepest sympathy goes out to
- Our deepest sympathy goes out to all those who knew her.
Synonyms and how they differ
- condolences
- The most common plural noun in this situation, as in 'Please accept my condolences'; it is slightly less emotional than 'deepest sympathy'.
- commiserations
- Used for sharing someone's disappointment or bad luck, not usually for a death.
- compassion
- A general feeling of pity and kindness; it is not a fixed message you send to a bereaved family.
Word family
- sympathize verb
- To say or show that you feel sorry for someone.
- sympathetic adjective
- Showing that you understand and care about someone's suffering.
- sympathetically adverb
- In a way that shows you care about someone's trouble.
Commonly confused: deepest sympathy or deepest apology? deepest sympathy or empathy?
deepest sympathy vs deepest apology
That phrase is used when you have done something wrong; 'deepest sympathy' is for someone else's loss, not your own fault.
deepest sympathy vs empathy
Empathy means sharing someone's feelings; sympathy here is the formal expression of sorrow for their loss.
Practice
Which sentence uses the expression correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Deepest sympathy' is offered to someone who has suffered a loss, so the family fits. It is not used to apologize for your own mistake, to congratulate, or to complain about service.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “deepest sympathy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.