sympathize

verb

sym·​pa·​thize ˈsim-pə-ˌthīz How to pronounce sympathize (audio)
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

Examples of sympathize in a Sentence

I sympathize but how can I help?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 How much the reader should sympathize with Lisa—whether the character whom Harwicz has created is more aptly seen as a wronged person lashing out or as a more lucid villain—also feels unresolved. Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2025 Her story struck a chord with readers who sympathized with the challenges of navigating family dynamics. Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sympathize

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sympathize was in 1600

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sympathize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sympathize. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

sympathize

verb
sym·​pa·​thize ˈsim-pə-ˌthīz How to pronounce sympathize (audio)
sympathized; sympathizing
1
: to share in suffering or grief : to feel or show sympathy
2
: to be in favor of something
sympathizer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sympathize

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!