sympathetic

1 of 2

adjective

sym·​pa·​thet·​ic ˌsim-pə-ˈthe-tik 

1

: existing or operating through an affinity, interdependence, or mutual association

2

a

: appropriate to one's mood, inclinations, or disposition

b

: marked by kindly or pleased appreciation

the biographer's approach was sympathetic

3

: given to, marked by, or arising from sympathy, compassion, friendliness, and sensitivity to others' emotions

a sympathetic gesture

4

: favorably inclined : approving

not sympathetic to the idea

5

a

: showing empathy

b

: arousing sympathy or compassion

a sympathetic role in the play

6

a

: of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system

b

: mediated by or acting on the sympathetic nerves

7

: relating to musical tones produced by sympathetic vibration or to strings so tuned as to sound by sympathetic vibration

sympathetically

ˌsim-pə-ˈthe-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

sympathetic

2 of 2

noun

: a sympathetic structure

especially : sympathetic nervous system

Synonyms

Adjective

• compassionate

Examples of sympathetic in a Sentence

Adjective

He received much help from sympathetic friends.

I didn't find the hero in the movie very sympathetic.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Iran’s missile strike against a U.S. military base in Qatar was met with near-unanimous rebuke in the Middle East, including from sympathetic powers such as Oman. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 23 June 2025

Trump and his cabinet members have repeatedly characterized Khalil’s advocacy as antisemitic and as being sympathetic to Hamas, which the U.S. designates as a terrorist organization. —Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 20 June 2025

Noun

His faith was increasingly at odds with national sentiment after King Charles I, an Anglican sympathetic to Roman Catholicism, gained the throne in 1625. —Fox News, 3 Mar. 2023

Prelogar said states can file suits in numerous jurisdictions, searching for a judge sympathetic to their cause. —Dallas News, 29 Nov. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

New Latin sympatheticus, from Latin sympathia sympathy

First Known Use

Adjective

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1808, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sympathetic

• reflex sympathetic dystrophy
• sympathetic magic
• sympathetic nervous system
• sympathetic strike
• sympathetic vibration

Rhymes for sympathetic

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

Kids Definition

sympathetic

adjective

sym·​pa·​thet·​ic

ˌsim-pə-ˈthet-ik

1

: fitting one's mood or disposition

a sympathetic atmosphere for quiet study

2

a

: feeling favorable

sympathetic with their aims

b

: marked by kindly or pleased appreciation

a sympathetic study of modern music

3

: given to or arising from sympathy and sensitivity to others

a sympathetic personality

4

a

: of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system

b

: controlled by or acting on the sympathetic nerves

sympathetically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Medical Definition

sympathetic

1 of 2 adjective

sym·​pa·​thet·​ic ˌsim-pə-ˈthet-ik 

1

: of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system

2

: mediated by or acting on the sympathetic nerves

sympathetically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

sympathetic

2 of 2 noun

: a sympathetic structure

especially : sympathetic nervous system