1
as in compassionate
having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another
a sympathetic smile needed a sympathetic listener who would understand her marital woes
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in benevolent
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others
a sympathetic store manager who let us use the telephone sympathetic letters from supporters after the disappointing verdict
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sympathetic
More: Salvadoran man convicted of killing, raping Maryland mother Rachel Morin in 2023
The Trump administration has worked to make Abrego Garcia a less sympathetic figure and shift the narrative to focus on immigration in general, rather than the specifics of his case.
—
Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Sometimes these characters aren’t sympathetic, but that’s hardly the point.
—Heather Scott Partington, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
But perhaps surprisingly, the show endeavors to keep Jamie sympathetic by dissecting the root cause of those feelings.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025
And this is clearly a policy that pisses off a lot of the business community, which Trump has been very sympathetic to, and which has rewarded him with a lot of support, especially the second time around.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sympathetic
Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Sometimes these characters aren’t sympathetic, but that’s hardly the point.
—Heather Scott Partington, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
But perhaps surprisingly, the show endeavors to keep Jamie sympathetic by dissecting the root cause of those feelings.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025
And this is clearly a policy that pisses off a lot of the business community, which Trump has been very sympathetic to, and which has rewarded him with a lot of support, especially the second time around.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sympathetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sympathetic
Adjective
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Officials expect about 100 prisoners each year will qualify for compassionate release, Buis said.—
Don Thompson,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2025
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In 2013, Francis garnered headlines for his open-minded stance on homosexuality, a notably compassionate approach compared with the Catholic Church’s historic position on the issue.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But at its core, Wrexham’s rapid rise owes mostly to club stumbling into a relationship with a benevolent benefactor with far more resources than most of its now-former fourth- and fifth-division peers.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
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Kate has always been considered to have a killer instinct and able to make these tough moral choices, and not always in the most benevolent way.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Harrell describes her daughter as a kind, sweet child who always sought to do what was right.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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What Lee liked best about playing Go-tak, a seemingly tough guy with a kind heart, was bonding with his fellow actors.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Virtual work can be thoughtful, efficient, and sustainable, but only if the foundation is clear.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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The post sparked a thoughtful discussion in the comments, with one user suggesting that neither party was necessarily in the wrong.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The humane society is in the Hickory area, a roughly 55-mile drive northwest from Charlotte.—
Simone Jasper,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Apr. 2025
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Officers then set a humane trap to catch the third Great Dane the next day and took him to the Humane Colorado buddy center to reunite with his friends.—
Brooke Baitinger,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sympathetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sympathetic. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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