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

Mamdani has picked up some key endorsements from Jewish leaders in the city and a New York Times-Siena poll last month found most young voters in New York City sympathize more with the Palestinians than with Israel over the war in Gaza. —Brian Mann, NPR, 22 Oct. 2025

Other commenters sympathized with the OP’s situation and recommended practical tips for dealing with the calls. —Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025

How even the courts will sympathize with them. —Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025

That foggy conclusion leaves the reader in the position of the speaker herself, asking questions about her own capacity to sympathize against her tendency to wonder. —Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 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