commiserate

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verb com·mis·er·ate \ kə-ˈmi-zə-ˌrāt \

Definition of commiserate

commiserated; commiserating

intransitive verb

:to feel or express sympathy :condole

commiserates with them on their loss

transitive verb

:to feel or express sorrow or compassion for

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commiseratingly

adverb

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commiseration

play \kə-ˌmi-zə-ˈrā-shən\ noun

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commiserative

play \kə-ˈmi-zə-ˌrā-tiv\ adjective

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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.

Recent Examples of commiserate from the Web

Kenneth Lacovara, a paleontologist at Rowan University and the discoverer of Dreadnoughtus, commiserates with this task.

— National Geographic, "New Dinosaur Species Was Largest Animal Ever to Walk the Earth," 9 Aug. 2017
This week, more Elvis fans than ever are expected to make their annual pilgrimage to commiserate and commemorate his Aug. 16, 1977, death.

— david waters, USA TODAY, "Faith in America: Elvis Presley and his American trilogy of baptisms," 8 Aug. 2017
The former Democratic officials often seem to be commiserating and clowning with their liberal compatriots.

— howard kurtz, Fox News, "Twitter taunts: Ex-Hillary and Obama aides reveling in the Don Jr. controversy," 14 July 2017
The pair hugged and commiserated over how drug addiction has devastated families.

— ryan van velzer, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Gov. Scott visits Palm Beach County to call attention to new law combating opioid abuse," 11 July 2017
All these years later, my personal feelings are irresolute, even as people I’ve told have apologized or commiserated.

— david mcgrath, Twin Cities, "David McGrath: The need to protect children," 11 June 2017
In the past year, I have been asked many times to reflect and comment and commiserate on the state of our country.

— vernon e. jordan, The New Yorker, "A Celebration of Black Lawyers, Past and Present," 7 June 2017
On the group’s Facebook page, former members commiserate over their inability to get their kids involved.

— ben brazil, Daily Pilot, "Once-burgeoning Tall Club is running short on membership," 25 May 2017
Both women were attending a Summit Series conference, an event bringing activists, artists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and more pioneers together to commiserate over ideas, strategy, and goals for the future.

— maggie mallon, Glamour, "These Two Entrepreneurs Want Every Woman to Have Access to the Tools She Needs to Build a Business," 15 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'commiserate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of commiserate

Latin commiseratus, past participle of commiserari, from com- + miserari to pity, from miser wretched

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1584

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COMMISERATE Defined for English Language Learners

commiserate

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verb

Definition of commiserate for English Language Learners

: to express sadness or sympathy for someone who has experienced something unpleasant

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See words that rhyme with commiserate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for commiserate Spanish Central: Translation of commiserate Nglish: Translation of commiserate for Spanish speakers

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commiserate

Definition of commiserate

commiseratingly

commiseration

commiserative

Examples of commiserate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of commiserate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of commiserate

COMMISERATE Defined for English Language Learners

commiserate

Definition of commiserate for English Language Learners

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commiserate

Definition of commiserate

commiseratingly

commiseration

commiserative

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COMMISERATE Defined for English Language Learners

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