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 of sympathize

• pity
• feel (for)
• bleed (for)

Examples of sympathize in a Sentence

I sympathize but how can I help?

Recent Examples on the Web

McAfee sympathized with his ESPN colleagues who were laid off. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2026

Smith Galer has much to say against the case for putting languages out of their misery, but her focus is on a point with which even the most unsentimental can surely sympathize. — Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 July 2026

His last film, a three-hour biopic about a communist-sympathizing physicist losing his security clearance, made nearly $1 billion. — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 19 July 2026

And though some may not sympathize with the lawyers, those that are court appointed are paid significantly less than those paid by private clients, and they are not paid until a case concludes, usually after many months. — Jacob M. Noble, Sun Sentinel, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for sympathize

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

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