as in compassion
the feeling that you understand and share another person's experiences and emotions
He felt great empathy toward the poor.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of empathy
The ensemble cast is stacked, and Anderson’s direction balances urgency with empathy.
—
Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 5 Jan. 2026
Here, Levinson-Blount speaks with Deadline about the complications of war and the need for empathy in today’s society.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2026
Walz pleaded for calm after Floyd’s death but also stood out as a white political leader who expressed empathy toward Black Americans and their experiences with police violence.
—Steve Karnowski, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
That means being intentional about listening to colleagues, clients and communities, and responding with empathy, to build trust and strengthen relationships.
—Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for empathy
Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 5 Jan. 2026
Here, Levinson-Blount speaks with Deadline about the complications of war and the need for empathy in today’s society.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2026
Walz pleaded for calm after Floyd’s death but also stood out as a white political leader who expressed empathy toward Black Americans and their experiences with police violence.
—Steve Karnowski, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
That means being intentional about listening to colleagues, clients and communities, and responding with empathy, to build trust and strengthen relationships.
—Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for empathy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for empathy
Noun
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Similarly, unhoused patients are either sources of spectacle (the first season’s man with rats nesting in his clothing) or figures whose primary function is to showcase the nurses’ compassion.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
6 Jan. 2026
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With the perfect blend of dark humor and compassion for her characters, Schumacher writes of the absurdity of the human experience.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Lilleaas shares her character’s sympathy for the inability of different generations to connect.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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No sympathy for Maduro Maduro, the ruthless dictator arrested with his wife and flown to New York for trial, deserves no sympathy.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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For months afterward, kindness arrived in unexpected forms — neighbors bringing food, strangers offering furniture, friends calling daily.—
Jonathan Taplin,
Rolling Stone,
7 Jan. 2026
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Does their lack of kindness grant you permission to respond with equal insensitivity or even cruelty?—
Michael Isaacson,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Spirit, energy and enthusiasm When there were loud external calls for upgrades at safety in August, head coach Dave Canales firmly backed Scott because of his leadership and understanding of the defense.—
Mike Kaye
January 8,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
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Tensor said the system emphasizes contextual understanding rather than simple object detection, allowing the AI to adapt to complex and unpredictable real-world driving conditions.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Their tone held no plea, nor wish for pity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
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Posting for Pity My grandmother always said nobody likes a pity party—and etiquette expert Jodi RR Smith agrees.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
27 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Empathy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empathy. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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