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

Yet this may be his first that’s less eat-the-rich and more invested in empathetic understanding. — Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Your empathetic nature can soothe tension by naming needs and timing without blame. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2026

Brilliant man had an empathetic ear Josh Rosenthal, 44, was a brilliant guy with a big heart. — Sheryl Lee, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Atticus, like the best actors, just seems a complete natural in front of the camera and creates a haunting portrait of a young man whose violent restless nature is not easy to tame, even as Clemens’ empathetic Rebecca tries. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 Sep. 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