com·pas·sion·ate
kəm-ˈpa-sh(ə-)nət 
1
: having or showing compassion : sympathetic
a compassionate friend
a compassionate smile
2
: granted because of unusual distressing circumstances affecting an individual
—used of some military privileges (such as leave)
The soldier was granted compassionate leave following the death of his father.
compassionately
adverb
compassionateness
noun
com·pas·sion·ate
kəm-ˈpa-shə-ˌnāt
compassionated; compassionating
: pity
… even compassionating those who hold in bondage their fellow men …—
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy AdamsSynonyms
Examples of compassionate in a Sentence
Adjective
a compassionate person by nature
a compassionate smile made the refugees feel a little better
Verb
a gentle soul who could compassionate even the most reprobate of scoundrels and villains
Recent Examples on the WebMatt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Cooper was not pleased with the changes to his character, a police officer who kills off a compassionate thief (Ryan Gosling) at the film’s halfway mark.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 6 Apr. 2024
The organs were transplanted under special rules that permit compassionate use of experimental therapies for patients in especially dire situations.
—John Bonifield, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
These three books are by far my most compassionate books.
—Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2024
Communicate Clearly With Compassion Handling your first termination with tact begins with clear, compassionate communication.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Family meetings work when the parent uses compassionate listening, so don’t be afraid to ask thoughtful questions and listen carefully.
—Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Despite the cumbersome regulations, some experts say that truly motivated clinic directors could still work within existing rules to provide flexible, compassionate care — and still, many choose not to.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 26 Mar. 2024
Taking proactive steps can address current needs and lay the groundwork for a sustainable and compassionate approach to elder care for future generations.
—Peter Ross, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, 20 Apr. 2023
He was recognized by Duke as being a competitor on the field and compassionate off it.
—J.c. Carnahan, orlandosentinel.com, 16 Dec. 2020
At age 49, the Juilliard graduate, who can easily transform from menacing mob boss to compassionate father with a mere expression change, is having the kind of year an actor can only dream about.
—Nicole Sperling, HWD, 12 Dec. 2017
Adjective
Guiding the reader through the various elements of filmmaking, from writing and shooting to acting and editing, Lumet is far more compassionate than vindictive.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Cooper was not pleased with the changes to his character, a police officer who kills off a compassionate thief (Ryan Gosling) at the film’s halfway mark.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 6 Apr. 2024
The organs were transplanted under special rules that permit compassionate use of experimental therapies for patients in especially dire situations.
—John Bonifield, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
These three books are by far my most compassionate books.
—Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2024
Communicate Clearly With Compassion Handling your first termination with tact begins with clear, compassionate communication.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Family meetings work when the parent uses compassionate listening, so don’t be afraid to ask thoughtful questions and listen carefully.
—Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Despite the cumbersome regulations, some experts say that truly motivated clinic directors could still work within existing rules to provide flexible, compassionate care — and still, many choose not to.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 26 Mar. 2024
Taking proactive steps can address current needs and lay the groundwork for a sustainable and compassionate approach to elder care for future generations.
—Peter Ross, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
Yet while 67% of white people who are eligible for PrEP are on it, only 8% eligible Black people are, often citing lack of access to healthcare or to compassionate healthcare.
—Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, 20 Apr. 2023
He was recognized by Duke as being a competitor on the field and compassionate off it.
—J.c. Carnahan, orlandosentinel.com, 16 Dec. 2020
At age 49, the Juilliard graduate, who can easily transform from menacing mob boss to compassionate father with a mere expression change, is having the kind of year an actor can only dream about.
—Nicole Sperling, HWD, 12 Dec. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'compassionate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Compassionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compassionate. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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