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
: a sympathetic structure
especially
: sympathetic nervous system
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
ArsTechnica, 13 July 2025
Davenport is sympathetic to best-of-five giving women’s tennis a more even platform, but fears that critics of women’s tennis would still dig up something to find fault with.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 12 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for sympathetic
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Adjective
Young Sil is sympathetic, the result of an unethical science experiment.
—ArsTechnica, 13 July 2025
Davenport is sympathetic to best-of-five giving women’s tennis a more even platform, but fears that critics of women’s tennis would still dig up something to find fault with.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 12 July 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
See All Example Sentences for sympathetic
Cite this Entry
“Sympathetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sympathetic. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
sympathetic
2 of 2 noun
: a sympathetic structure
especially
: sympathetic nervous system
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