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
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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
The portrayal is sympathetic and mostly leads to an internal conflict for Fleur that’s captured well.
—
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
With its buzzy energy and sympathetic — if bumbling — criminals, Lumet withholds crucial information from the viewer until the final portion of the film.
—Christina Newland, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
McEwen was sympathetic and responded in force, requesting three times that the FBI get involved.
—Bjorn Dihle, Outdoor Life, 4 Sep. 2025
Han has used centuries of philosophy to deconstruct the current ennui of life online, but Pettman’s writing is more personal and sympathetic than Han’s aphoristic, self-effacing mode.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sympathetic
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
With its buzzy energy and sympathetic — if bumbling — criminals, Lumet withholds crucial information from the viewer until the final portion of the film.
—Christina Newland, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
McEwen was sympathetic and responded in force, requesting three times that the FBI get involved.
—Bjorn Dihle, Outdoor Life, 4 Sep. 2025
Han has used centuries of philosophy to deconstruct the current ennui of life online, but Pettman’s writing is more personal and sympathetic than Han’s aphoristic, self-effacing mode.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sympathetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sympathetic
Adjective
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Vettel is already known as a mentor for younger drivers, and his compassionate, veteran savvy would help any racing organization develop talent.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Jess is compassionate and understanding.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
To achieve excellence in AI, nations need the compute, but also chip production, AI talent, workforce and corporate adoption, benevolent government regulation, and a thriving ecosystem of AI startups.—
John Koetsier,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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And of course Wendy tells Nibs the truth, putting them both on guard against the manipulations of their seemingly benevolent guardians.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Even kind gestures or neutral actions can be misinterpreted as hostile or manipulative.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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But some of them weren’t kind and that does something to you psychologically.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
An amicable run-in with his ex-wife in this episode has the same thoughtful feeling.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
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Her solution is to be thoughtful and focused on the right risks and opportunities.—
Jack McCullough,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This isn't to say that Raskin's quest for a truly humane computer has completely come to naught.—
Cameron Kaiser,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
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Family Matters offers something radical and profoundly humane in a field where so much emphasis is placed on the one who struggles with addiction.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sympathetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sympathetic. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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