1
as in benevolent
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others
a compassionate person by nature
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sympathetic
having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another
a compassionate smile made the refugees feel a little better
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to pity
to have sympathy for
a gentle soul who could compassionate even the most reprobate of scoundrels and villains
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of compassionate
Tony Bravo, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
With each conversation, Christina stayed compassionate, caring, and curious about his HS—the three C's Chaz wanted in a partner.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 1 Apr. 2026
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Yet while 67% of white people who are eligible for PrEP are on it, only 8% eligible Black people are, often citing lack of access to healthcare or to compassionate healthcare.
—Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, 20 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for compassionate
Adjective
On one hand, her work includes deeply compassionate photographs of carnival performers, strippers, nudists, gender-nonconforming people, people with developmental disabilities, and people with both dwarfism and gigantism.
—Tony Bravo, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
With each conversation, Christina stayed compassionate, caring, and curious about his HS—the three C's Chaz wanted in a partner.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
The solution is to shift from empathy to compassionate accountability: Instead of feeling with the person, focus on walking beside them while holding the line.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Yet while 67% of white people who are eligible for PrEP are on it, only 8% eligible Black people are, often citing lack of access to healthcare or to compassionate healthcare.
—Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, 20 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for compassionate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compassionate
Adjective
-
Walt had long described himself as a benevolent father to his workers, and the strike seemed an act of personal betrayal and disloyalty verging on patricide.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The common bonds that held the fabric of society together have been torn to shreds and sewn together into robes that adorn the would-be benevolent dictators of culture who explain everything, apologize for nothing and lend their credibility to anyone willing to pay their fee.—
Bruce Stockler,
Fortune,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The sympathetic Moon embraces restrictive Saturn in your 7th House of Connections, asking for agreements across romantic, platonic, professional, or family bonds.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
In the audience, even some of Vance’s sympathetic listeners offered caveats and critiques.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Instead, we are ridiculed and pitied globally.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
So pity the ordinary property owners who have to pay the taxman two times every year.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Season 3 is not totally devoid of supporters and kind superlatives, particularly for the cinematography and Zendaya’s reliably impressive chops.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Some of the kinder ones would give a Christmas tip if the apprentices did a good job cleaning their boots but others, basking in the new money of the Premier League, preferred to peacock.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Here, learn how to recognize if your child is an empath and adopt strategies for supporting their uniquely empathetic traits.—
Laura Wheatman Hill,
Parents,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Individuals with Neptune in Pisces are often deeply empathetic and imaginative, dreaming through art, spirituality and the emotional tides of humanity.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
There are a number of slaughtering practices that qualify meat as halal, including guidelines that emphasize humane animal treatment.—
Zareen Syed,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
This is not only the most effective strategy but also the most humane, Carpenter notes.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
School for Defectors, with its endearing cast of students and empathic educators, is also resonating with audiences, to judge from the response at True/False.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Caleb and Tarim's relationship is both incredibly sexy in very overt ways, but wraps that into the concept of Betazed's open sexuality and empathic ability.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Wiener is a thoughtful lawmaker who championed groundbreaking housing-deregulation laws, but in this case that San Francisco progressive won out.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The best Mother’s Day gift ideas aren’t always the most obvious—they’re the ones that feel personal, thoughtful, and just a little indulgent.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compassionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compassionate. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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