empathetic

adjective

em·​pa·​thet·​ic ˌem-pə-ˈthe-tik 

: involving, characterized by, or based on empathy

empathetically

ˌem-pə-ˈthe-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms of empathetic

• compassionate
• sympathetic

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

The book also delves into her biracial identity and her father's subversive artistry, ultimately seeking to foster more direct, empathetic conversations about race, identity, and human connection. — Marybeth Gasman, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026

Burrows played himself as smart, empathetic, crotchety and, despite generations of experience under his belt, entirely forward-looking. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2026

According to an article in Nature Reviews Psychology, seeing others in pain often recruits the same brain systems as feeling pain ourselves, and can be distressing, especially for highly empathetic people. — Michele Promaulayko, Allure, 17 June 2026

Curry-Winchell founded Clinicians Who Care, a database aimed to connect patients with empathetic doctors. — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 17 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for empathetic

• alphabetic
• anaesthetic
• anesthetic
• antithetic
• apathetic
• arithmetic
• cybernetic
• diabetic
• dietetic
• diuretic
• energetic
• geodetic