Definition of sympathy
sympathies
1a : an affinity, association, or relationship between persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the otherb : mutual or parallel susceptibility or a condition brought about by itc : unity or harmony in action or effect every part is in complete sympathy with the scheme as a whole — Edwin Benson
2a : inclination to think or feel alike : emotional or intellectual accord in sympathy with their goalsb : feeling of loyalty : tendency to favor or support republican sympathies
3a : the act or capacity of entering into or sharing the feelings or interests of anotherb : the feeling or mental state brought about by such sensitivity have sympathy for the poor
4 : the correlation existing between bodies capable of communicating their vibrational energy to one another through some medium
Explore Merriam-Webster
Examples of sympathy in a Sentence
She went to her best friend for sympathy.
Letters of sympathy were sent to the families of the victims.
My deepest sympathies go out to the families of the victims.
Our sympathies are with them.
There was no sympathy between them.
Recent Examples of sympathy from the Web
-
Even some official accounts carried thinly veiled expressions of sympathy.
-
And the man accused of stabbing three people after a racist tirade in Oregon later in May had reportedly expressed sympathy for Nazis on his Facebook page.
-
On the Nextdoor social media site, some Britton Ridge neighbors expressed sympathy and even offered to help mow his lawn, Sullivan said.
-
Many are women wearing the niqab, a veil covering the entire face except the eyes, which gives them anonymity and can win sympathy from religiously conservative passengers.
-
At one point, heavily armed police storm the stage (hence that audience warning), prompting what looks like genuine sympathy for Carmen from Don José, and congratulations from his therapist (Pierre Grammont, in a speaking role).
-
The companies responded with sympathy for your situation.
-
Indeed, the horrific details of Harris and Klebold’s rampage aside, there’s been an undeniable current of sympathy for the murderers.
-
Though far from uncritical, biographers of Jefferson in the postwar years up to, roughly, the early 1970s—scholars like Dumas Malone and Merrill Peterson—treated him with sympathy and celebrated his Enlightenment ideals.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sympathy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of sympathy
Latin sympathia, from Greek sympatheia, from sympathēs having common feelings, sympathetic, from syn- + pathos feelings, emotion, experience — more at pathos
Synonym Discussion of sympathy
pity, compassion, commiseration, condolence, sympathy mean the act or capacity for sharing the painful feelings of another. pity implies tender or sometimes slightly contemptuous sorrow for one in misery or distress. felt pity for the captives compassion implies pity coupled with an urgent desire to aid or to spare. treats the homeless with great compassion commiseration suggests pity expressed outwardly in exclamations, tears, or words of comfort. murmurs of commiseration filled the loser's headquarters condolence applies chiefly to formal expression of grief to one who has suffered loss. expressed their condolences to the widow sympathy often suggests a tender concern but can also imply a power to enter into another's emotional experience of any sort. went to my best friend for sympathy in sympathy with her desire to locate her natural parents
SYMPATHY Defined for English Language Learners
sympathy
playDefinition of sympathy for English Language Learners
-
: the feeling that you care about and are sorry about someone else's trouble, grief, misfortune, etc. : a sympathetic feeling
-
: a feeling of support for something
-
: a state in which different people share the same interests, opinions, goals, etc.
SYMPATHY Defined for Kids
sympathy
playDefinition of sympathy for Students
sympathies
1 : sorrow or pity for another She felt sympathy for the poor lost puppy.
2 : readiness to favor or support He expressed sympathy for the protesters.
3 : a relationship between people or things in which whatever affects one similarly affects the other
Medical Dictionary
sympathy
playMedical Definition of sympathy
sympathies
1a: an affinity, association, or relationship between persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the otherb: mutual or parallel susceptibility or a condition brought about by it
2a: the act or capacity of entering into or sharing the feelings or interests of anotherb: the feeling or mental state brought about by such sensitivity
Learn More about sympathy
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sympathy Spanish Central: Translation of sympathy Nglish: Translation of sympathy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sympathy for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up sympathy? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!