sympathize

verb

sym·​pa·​thize ˈsim-pə-ˌthīz 

sympathized; sympathizing

intransitive verb

1

: to be in keeping, accord, or harmony

2

: to react or respond in sympathy

3

: to share in suffering or grief : commiserate

sympathize with a friend in trouble

also : to express such sympathy

4

: to be in sympathy intellectually

sympathize with a proposal

sympathizer noun

Synonyms

• pity
• feel (for)
• bleed (for)

Examples of sympathize in a Sentence

I sympathize but how can I help?

Recent Examples on the Web

Hickman sympathizes with workers demanding better pay but is worried about his own health and travel challenges. —Nathan Gomes, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025

Hundreds of cat owners sympathized with her ordeal in the comments. —Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025

While talking to Klatt about the landscape of college sports today, Brady sympathized with parents and kids alike. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2025

The player also sympathizes with the host’s irritation over Survivor players taking their fame over to other shows like The Traitors, Deal or No Deal Island, House of Villains, and The Challenge, but says there is simply no stopping it. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sympathize

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

Kids Definition

sympathize

verb

sym·​pa·​thize ˈsim-pə-ˌthīz 

sympathized; sympathizing

1

: to share in suffering or grief : to feel or show sympathy

2

: to be in favor of something

sympathizer noun