as in to sympathize
to have the same feelings as another person; to feel empathy for someone
—often + with
He learned to empathize with the poor.
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Recent Examples of empathize
Many people lack the skills needed to manage their emotions, empathize with others, and resolve conflicts.
—
Jasna Hodžić, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Kerr empathized with the Timberwolves for having to play under such circumstances after the events of Saturday in their home city.
—Nick Friedell, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Whatever your preconceived notions about Feldman are, Hume’s film will expand and challenge them; the movie’s greatness lies in its ability to capture all of Feldman’s contradictions and self-destructiveness, empathizing with him without soft-pedaling his sins.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
Kesey recognizes her literary talent and also empathizes with her over the loss of her child, having been deeply marked by the death of one of his sons in a road accident.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for empathize
Jasna Hodžić, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Kerr empathized with the Timberwolves for having to play under such circumstances after the events of Saturday in their home city.
—Nick Friedell, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Whatever your preconceived notions about Feldman are, Hume’s film will expand and challenge them; the movie’s greatness lies in its ability to capture all of Feldman’s contradictions and self-destructiveness, empathizing with him without soft-pedaling his sins.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
Kesey recognizes her literary talent and also empathizes with her over the loss of her child, having been deeply marked by the death of one of his sons in a road accident.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for empathize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for empathize
sympathize
Verb
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The changing sentiment has been largely driven by Democrats, who are now much more likely to sympathize with Palestinians.—
Linley Sanders,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
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Vance added that the president continues to sympathize with the Iranian people, but nuclear weapons remain a paramount interest.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Empathize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empathize. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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