empathetic

adjective

em·​pa·​thet·​ic ˌem-pə-ˈthe-tik How to pronounce empathetic (audio)
: involving, characterized by, or based on empathy
empathetically adverb

Examples of empathetic in a Sentence

an empathetic social worker who soon realized that the single mother was at her breaking point
Recent Examples on the Web Both Frank and Manny are remarkably honest and empathetic, and the result is a film that reveals the intense work that goes into Manny’s quest to gain control and live in the moment. The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2024 She’s been the subject of numerous films — some empathetic (My Week With Marilyn); some wretchedly provocative (Blonde) — that treat her as a victim. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024 Woke means the evolution of thought to be tolerant of and empathetic to others. Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024 On the other hand, humans have distinct advantages on the art side, which reflects the more creative, nuanced and empathetic aspects of crafting data stories. Brent Dykes, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Locke, as a homosexual, and Johnson, as an orphan adrift, grew up without the usual empathetic scaffolding of familial sustenance. Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Servant leaders are empathetic with high EQ, committed to the team's growth and believe in community building leading to business success. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 An empathetic person who cares about others, Zachary is also fascinated by animals and dinosaurs and loves to learn about them in his history classes. The Star, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2024 This is where Odierno Law Firm’s empathetic and transparent approach comes into play. Nick Kasmik, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'empathetic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of empathetic was in 1912

Dictionary Entries Near empathetic

Cite this Entry

“Empathetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empathetic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!