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

Men are supposed to pay for dinner but also treat women as equals; to initiate flirty banter but never be creepy or aggressive; to be sturdy and masculine but also empathetic and thoughtful. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026

Andriy simply isn’t a good leader — neither empathetic nor precise with his advice for Bobby — but then again, Bobby is also clearly in her feelings. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 July 2026

But Magdalen’s temporary embodiment of her sister’s demure, obedient nature does not temper her impulsive, dramatic tendencies—only the development of an empathetic, analytical intelligence can do that. — Literary Hub, 24 July 2026

Like many young people with a diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Jacob Schreiber was creative, empathetic and endlessly curious. — Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026