compassion fatigue

noun

1

medical : the physical and mental exhaustion and emotional withdrawal experienced by those who care for sick or traumatized people over an extended period of time

Unlike burnout, which is caused by everyday work stresses (dealing with insurance companies, making treatment choices), compassion fatigue results from taking on the emotional burden of a patient's agony.

—Tim Jarvis

2

: apathy or indifference toward the suffering of others as the result of overexposure to tragic news stories and images and the subsequent appeals for assistance

Several fundraising experts said the Las Vegas collection may trail other donation efforts for several reasons, including "compassion fatigue" … . "Compassion fatigue is a real thing. There have been so many things that happened this year," [Sandy] Rees said. "But it does get overwhelming, and I think people start to tune out."

—David Montero

Examples of compassion fatigue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One of the most pervasive challenges in nonprofits is compassion fatigue: the emotional exhaustion that arises from sustained exposure to human suffering. —Yujia Zhu, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025

The sheer volume of information, often conflicting and overwhelming, can lead to compassion fatigue or a sense of paralysis. —Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025

Psychotherapist Stephanie Sarkis says the mental health consequences of compassion fatigue can be severe, including anxiety, depression as well as thoughts of suicide. —Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 11 Aug. 2024

Western publics by and large have managed to stave off compassion fatigue and remain committed to helping Ukraine repulse the Russian invasion. —Nina Jankowicz, Foreign Affairs, 4 May 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for compassion fatigue

• blitzkrieg
• intrigue
• muskeg
• chincoteague
• league

Medical Definition

compassion fatigue

noun

: the physical and mental exhaustion and emotional withdrawal experienced by those that care for sick or traumatized people over an extended period of time

Some researchers consider compassion fatigue to be similar to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), except that it applies to those emotionally affected by the trauma of another (eg, client or family member) rather than by one's own trauma.

—Michael K. Kearney et al., The Journal of the American Medical Association

Clinicians should be aware of how their emotional withdrawal or lability and "compassion fatigue" can jeopardize the care of dying patients and their families.

—Deborah Cook and Graeme Rocker, The New England Journal of Medicine