commiserate
verb
com·mis·er·ate
kə-ˈmi-zə-ˌrāt 
commiserated; commiserating
: to feel or express sorrow or compassion for
commiseratingly
adverb
Examples of commiserate in a Sentence
"Did you enjoy your breakfast?" "The eggs were runny." "I know." The woman commiserated. "I was thinking, I should just have barged into the kitchen and done them myself."
—
Alice Munro, Runaway, (2004) 2005
The other potters seemed to slump as one into dejection, all but abandoning their work in favor of long, lugubrious visits to the wine shop, where they commiserated with one another.
—Linda Sue Park, A Single Shard, (2001) 2003
"I been readin' about it," she said, referring to the recent breakup of my marriage. … "It's too bad," she commiserated.
—Arthur Miller, Timebends, 1987
The pain of losing is diverting. So is the thrill of winning. Winning, however, is lonelier, because those you've taken money from are not apt to commiserate with you.
—David Mamet, New York Times Magazine, 20 Apr. 1986
The players commiserated over their loss in the championship game.
Alice Munro, Runaway, (2004) 2005
The other potters seemed to slump as one into dejection, all but abandoning their work in favor of long, lugubrious visits to the wine shop, where they commiserated with one another.
—Linda Sue Park, A Single Shard, (2001) 2003
"I been readin' about it," she said, referring to the recent breakup of my marriage. … "It's too bad," she commiserated.
—Arthur Miller, Timebends, 1987
The pain of losing is diverting. So is the thrill of winning. Winning, however, is lonelier, because those you've taken money from are not apt to commiserate with you.
—David Mamet, New York Times Magazine, 20 Apr. 1986
The players commiserated over their loss in the championship game.
Recent Examples on the Web
When a video emerged of him sobbing in his locker room stall after coming agonizingly close to winning the title a year ago, his entire native nation commiserated with his pain.
—David Close, CNN Money, 17 June 2025
Meantime Marty and his ex-wife Felicia (Karen Gillan), on good terms, commiserate by phone about the latest roster of calamities.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025
On the other end of the spectrum are passionate amateurs who post stories, serialize novels-in-progress, commiserate about the joys and agonies of writing, talk smack about the literary establishment, and cheer one another on.
—Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 11 May 2025
Having someone to learn alongside, laugh with, and sometimes commiserate together made all the difference.
—Emily Lapointe, Outside Online, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for commiserate
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David Close, CNN Money, 17 June 2025
Meantime Marty and his ex-wife Felicia (Karen Gillan), on good terms, commiserate by phone about the latest roster of calamities.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025
On the other end of the spectrum are passionate amateurs who post stories, serialize novels-in-progress, commiserate about the joys and agonies of writing, talk smack about the literary establishment, and cheer one another on.
—Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 11 May 2025
Having someone to learn alongside, laugh with, and sometimes commiserate together made all the difference.
—Emily Lapointe, Outside Online, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for commiserate
Cite this Entry
“Commiserate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commiserate. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
commiserate
verb
com·mis·er·ate
kə-ˈmiz-ə-ˌrāt
commiserated; commiserating
: to feel or express sorrow or sympathy : sympathize
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