adjective
sympathetic
sim-puh-THET-ik/ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk/
Sharing or understanding another's feelings.
The sympathetic friend offers a tissue and rests a gentle hand on the crying person's shoulder.
Etymology
“Feeling together” means being affected by another person's feelings. In this sense, that fellow-feeling is directed toward another's difficulties, producing the understanding and compassion described by sympathetic.
In context
was an amateur artist, as warm, affectionate and sympathetic to her problems.
because everyone was sympathetic to Ukraine anyway.
More examples
- She gives me a sympathetic smile after my mistake.
- He is sympathetic to our request for more time.
- Talking about her own struggles makes her more sympathetic toward others.
Forms
sympathetic · more sympathetic · most sympathetic
sympathy noun — Care and understanding for another person's difficulties.
sympathetically adverb — In a caring and understanding way.
Similar words
- empathetic
- Emphasizes understanding another person's feelings from that person's perspective.
- compassionate
- Emphasizes concern for suffering and a desire to help.