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

Eleven finds her way to them, jumping inside the Mind Flayer to destroy Vecna, who’s controlling it from within, while Will fights telepathically from the outside, no longer empathetic or afraid to go toe to toe with his former saboteur. —Yohana Desta, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2026

Her regal stoicism along with her kind, empathetic, reassuring demeanor is the perfect mix that captivates Royal fans globally. —Janelle Ash , Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026

Lolita is both romantic and deeply disturbing, empathetic and Swiftian, surreal and acute. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025

Sorry, Baby is extremely up my alley, a deeply moving, highly empathetic story of overcoming trauma, laced with pitch-black humor. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2025

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