Synonyms of sympathy

sympathy

noun

ˈsim-pə-thē 

1

as in compassion

sorrow or the capacity to feel sorrow for another's suffering or misfortune

since losing her own brother to lung disease, the nurse has had greater sympathy for families going through the same agony

Synonyms & Similar Words

• compassion
• empathy
• feeling
• commiseration
• regret
• kindness
• pity
• condolence
• mercy
• generosity
• understanding
• sensitivity
• affinity
• humanity
• humaneness
• ruth
• rapport
• kindliness
• goodwill
• magnanimity
• altruism
• benevolence
• kindheartedness
• humanitarianism
• benignity
• warmheartedness
• largesse
• softheartedness
• philanthropy
• charity
• largeheartedness
• bigheartedness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifference
• callousness
• heartlessness
• cruelty
• insensitivity
• hatred
• unconcern
• hostility
• coldheartedness
• inhumanity
• hard-heartedness
• animosity
• harshness
• antipathy
• dislike

2

as in kindness

the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune

the least you could do is have some sympathy for me if I have to stay home

Synonyms & Similar Words

• kindness
• compassion
• heart
• pity
• feelings
• feeling
• mercy
• generosity
• commiseration
• humanity
• sensitivity
• ruth
• kindliness
• responsiveness
• kindheartedness
• good-heartedness
• affection
• charity
• empathy
• warmheartedness
• regard
• love
• largeheartedness
• softheartedness
• sensibility
• bigheartedness
• affinity
• rapport
• goodwill
• altruism
• humanism
• humaneness
• benevolence
• humanitarianism
• benignity
• philanthropy
• benignancy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifference
• inhumanity
• coldness
• disinterest
• cruelty
• callousness
• unconcern
• hatred
• mercilessness
• pitilessness
• hostility
• coldheartedness
• animosity
• hard-heartedness
• harshness
• inhumanness
• antipathy
• dislike

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun sympathy differ from other similar words?

The words affinity and attraction are common synonyms of sympathy. While all three words mean "the relationship existing between things or persons that are naturally or involuntarily drawn together," sympathy implies a reciprocal or natural relation between two things that are both susceptible to the same influence.

two minds in sympathy

When might affinity be a better fit than sympathy?

The meanings of affinity and sympathy largely overlap; however, affinity implies a susceptibility or predisposition on the part of the one drawn.

an affinity for mathematics

When is attraction a more appropriate choice than sympathy?

In some situations, the words attraction and sympathy are roughly equivalent. However, attraction implies the possession by one thing of a quality that pulls another to it.

felt an attraction to danger

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sympathy

But as the years and the distance cast shadows and doubt, confidences and sympathies turn into surprising revelations. —Danielle Parker, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026

The Raiders, who Mauro played for in 2019, also shared their sympathies in a social media post. —Dalila Muata, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026

By making it about his son, LeBron wins sympathy from casual fans. —Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026

Dahl assumes that Jessica’s background as a New York Jew has clouded her sympathy for the innocent casualties of Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon. —Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026