sympathize

verb sym·pa·thize \ ˈsim-pə-ˌthīz \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of sympathize

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

See sympathize defined for English-language learners

See sympathize defined for kids

Examples of sympathize in a Sentence

I sympathize but how can I help?

Recent Examples of sympathize from the Web

Before the protest turned physical, many motorists appeared to sympathize with the demonstrators who shut down 65th Street in south Sacramento, near where Clark lived.

— chicagotribune.com, "Signs of progress emerge as Sacramento protests over Stephon Clark's killing remain tense," 2 Apr. 2018
Father Fidelis Mukonori, Mugabe’s spiritual adviser and an old regime-sympathizing priest, was mediating.

— karan mahajan, The New Republic, "After the Strongman," 26 Mar. 2018
First, try to sympathize with the parents of a screaming child.

— christen a. johnson, chicagotribune.com, "What to do if a noisy child is ruining your restaurant meal," 29 Mar. 2018
Whether or not people sympathize, the damage has been done.

— laurie penny, Longreads, "Who Does She Think She Is?," 29 Mar. 2018
In Middle of Nowhere, Ava allows us to sympathize with a woman who pauses her medical career to emotionally support her incarcerated husband.

— connor garel, Teen Vogue, "Ava DuVernay’s Cinematic Gospel Is Changing Hollywood Brick by Brick," 22 Mar. 2018
One person who can sympathize with the magnitude of how much Odom’s life changed in an instant is his opponent on Sunday.

— dan wolken, USA TODAY, "2018 NCAA tournament: Suddenly, UMBC's Ryan Odom is hot name in coaching," 17 Mar. 2018
Those civilians were mostly North Korean residents who wanted to flee from the North’s harsh systems, such as big landowners, wealthy businessmen who feared political purges or others who sympathized with South Korea or sheltered southern soldiers.

— hyung-jin kim, The Seattle Times, "Rescued from Korean War by US ship, now Olympic volunteers," 24 Feb. 2018
During the first six episodes, we were asked to sympathize with characters like Burnham, Lorca, Stamets, and Tyler—people who were arguably broken and maybe even evil.

— annalee newitz, Ars Technica, "Star Trek Discovery: “I’ve made a lot of bad emotional choices”," 7 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sympathize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of sympathize

1600

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

SYMPATHIZE Defined for English Language Learners

sympathize

verb

Definition of sympathize for English Language Learners

: to feel sorry for someone who is in a bad situation : to feel sympathy for someone because you understand that person's problems
: to feel or show support for or approval of something

SYMPATHIZE Defined for Kids

sympathize

verb sym·pa·thize \ ˈsim-pə-ˌthīz \

Definition of sympathize for Students

sympathized; sympathizing

1 : to feel or show pity or care and understanding for

We sympathize with the family in its sorrow.

2 : to be in favor of something

… no one sympathized with him in his little attempts to discover a quiet place for the seals.
—Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book

Learn More about sympathize

See words that rhyme with sympathize Spanish Central: Translation of sympathize Nglish: Translation of sympathize for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sympathize for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up sympathize? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

sympathize

Definition of sympathize

sympathizer

Examples of sympathize in a Sentence

Recent Examples of sympathize from the Web

First Known Use of sympathize

SYMPATHIZE Defined for English Language Learners

sympathize

Definition of sympathize for English Language Learners

SYMPATHIZE Defined for Kids

sympathize

Definition of sympathize for Students

Learn More about sympathize

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

loath

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

‘Sleight’ or ‘Slight’ of Hand?

'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Words of the Year: 1066

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

More Confusing Words—Quiz

Spell It

Bee Cubed

The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

Trending: 'Venom' Trailer Drives Searches for 'Symbiote'

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

sympathize

Definition of sympathize

sympathizer

Examples of sympathize in a Sentence

Recent Examples of sympathize from the Web

First Known Use of sympathize

SYMPATHIZE Defined for English Language Learners

sympathize

Definition of sympathize for English Language Learners

SYMPATHIZE Defined for Kids

sympathize

Definition of sympathize for Students

Learn More about sympathize

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

Trending: 'Venom' Trailer Drives Searches for 'Symbiote'

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes