Synonyms of empathetic

empathetic

adjective

ˌem-pə-ˈthe-tik 

as in compassionate

having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another

an empathetic social worker who soon realized that the single mother was at her breaking point

Synonyms & Similar Words

• compassionate
• sympathetic
• empathic
• humane
• understanding
• gentle
• loving
• affectionate
• warm
• benevolent
• commiserative
• feeling
• perceptive
• sensitive
• gracious
• merciful
• considerate
• friendly
• kind
• charitable
• magnanimous
• kindly
• kindhearted
• tolerant
• lenient
• pitying
• softhearted
• good-natured
• warmhearted
• tenderhearted
• congenial
• bighearted
• cordial
• benignant
• tender
• good-tempered
• largehearted
• genial
• well-disposed
• clement
• ruthful

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unsympathetic
• callous
• heartless
• inhuman
• hard
• unfeeling
• insensitive
• obdurate
• inhumane
• indifferent
• thoughtless
• cold-blooded
• aloof
• insensate
• unthinking
• inconsiderate
• uncaring
• cool
• uninterested
• coldhearted
• hard-hearted
• unfriendly
• ruthless
• pitiless
• unloving
• merciless
• severe
• bigoted
• tough
• brutal
• stern
• harsh
• hostile
• unaffectionate
• oppressive
• grim
• unrelenting
• abusive
• rough
• unkind
• malicious
• spiteful
• ungentle
• disagreeable
• surly
• hateful
• malevolent
• virulent
• mean
• blinkered
• acrimonious
• narrow-minded
• rancorous
• small-minded
• hard-bitten
• hard-boiled
• ill-tempered
• ill-natured

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of empathetic

Brilliant man had an empathetic ear Josh Rosenthal, 44, was a brilliant guy with a big heart. — Sheryl Lee, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Friends are usually more flexible and empathetic with one another, like if someone takes a wrong turn. — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Using data, intelligent analytics and empathetic evaluations, anticipatory insights can make or break your performance metrics. — Marcy Klipfel, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Colman Domingo Domingo praised Parton’s ability to be talented and empathetic. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026