empathetic

adjective

em·​pa·​thet·​ic ˌem-pə-ˈthe-tik How to pronounce empathetic (audio)
: involving, characterized by, or based on empathy
empathetically adverb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This time, the jury seemed more empathetic. Joe Garcia, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025 In the film, Laura is in the hold for a maximum of 24 hours, and Carrie is far more empathetic to Laura’s needs. Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025 Although tragic at its core, inspired by the story of a singer and friend who lost her life prematurely, the film is primarily an empathetic parody of romantic melodramas. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025 But the Survivor gods weren’t as empathetic as the Uli and Hina tribes were. Nick Caruso, TVLine, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for empathetic

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of empathetic was in 1912

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Empathetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empathetic. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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