empathize

verb

em·​pa·​thize ˈem-pə-ˌthīz 

empathized; empathizing

intransitive verb

: to experience empathy

empathized with his son's fears

empathizer

ˈem-pə-ˌthī-zər 

noun

Examples of empathize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That's why, as both teams embark on their respective playoff runs on Tuesday, Roberts can empathize with what Boone, who has yet to win a World Series title in his eighth year as the New York skipper, must be dealing with. —Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025

Meanwhile, 61% of 18-29-year-olds empathized more with Palestinians, while a 47% plurality of those 65 and older empathized more with Israelis. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025

Instead, validate, empathize with and be curious about their feelings and perceptions. —Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025

Desai does have a Tolstoyan talent for both empathizing with and skewering the upper classes from within. —Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1916, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for empathize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Medical Definition

empathize

intransitive verb

em·​pa·​thize

variants or British empathise

ˈem-pə-ˌthīz 

empathized or British empathised; empathizing or British empathising

: to experience empathy

adults unable to empathize with a child's frustrations