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Meaning & use

sympathetic

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌsɪm.pəˈθet.ɪk/
US/ˌsɪm.pəˈθet.ɪk/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparableapproving

    Showing kindness, understanding, or concern for another person's pain or difficulty.

    Grammar: Use more and most; often followed by to or towards.

    Patterns

    • sympathetic to someone
    • sympathetic towards
    • a sympathetic listener
    • sympathetic ear

    The nurse was sympathetic to the family waiting for news.

    He gave a sympathetic nod and let her finish the story.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Likable or easy to identify with, especially describing a character in a story.

    Grammar: Before a noun or after be in reviews and discussion of fiction.

    Patterns

    • sympathetic character
    • sympathetic portrayal
    • find someone sympathetic

    The novel succeeds because even its villains have sympathetic motives.

    Audiences found the tired single father highly sympathetic.

  3. adjectivecomparable

    Supportive of an idea, aim, or group rather than opposed to it.

    Grammar: Common pattern is sympathetic to or towards a proposal or cause.

    Patterns

    • sympathetic to reform
    • sympathetic towards
    • sympathetic view

    Several senators are sympathetic to the plan for cheaper childcare.

    The editorial took a sympathetic view of the protesters' concerns.

Word forms

comparativemore sympathetic
superlativemost sympathetic

Common combinations

sympathetic to
My boss was sympathetic to my request for leave.
sympathetic listener
A sympathetic listener can lower the temperature of an argument.
sympathetic ear
She lent a sympathetic ear after the failed exam.
deeply sympathetic
The community was deeply sympathetic to the flood victims.
sympathetic character
A selfish narrator can still be a sympathetic character.

Synonyms and how they differ

compassionate
Compassionate stresses a deep wish to relieve suffering; sympathetic stresses understanding and kind response.
understanding
Understanding is broader agreement or insight; sympathetic adds warmth toward someone's trouble.
empathetic
Empathetic emphasizes sharing another's feelings from inside; sympathetic can mean feeling for them.
supportive
Supportive means actively helping or approving; sympathetic can be only an attitude.

Opposites

unsympatheticcoldindifferent

Word family

sympathy noun
The feeling of care or understanding for another's trouble.
sympathize verb
To feel or express sympathy.
sympathetically adverb
In a kind, understanding way.
unsympathetic adjective
Not kind or understanding.

Commonly confused: sympathetic or pathetic? sympathetic or empathetic?

sympathetic vs pathetic

Pathetic means pitiful or inadequate; sympathetic means caring or likable despite the similar ending.

sympathetic vs empathetic

Empathetic centers on imagining another's experience; sympathetic centers on concern or approval.

Practice

The manager was ___ our situation and agreed to postpone the deadline.

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