Need another word for Sympathetic? Use these synonyms of Sympathetic from our thesaurus to say it differently.
Synonyms & Similar Words
compassionate
kind
gentle
understanding
empathetic
tender
considerate
caring
humane
benevolent
charitable
generous
solicitous
concerned
supportive
encouraging
comforting
soothing
placating
conciliatory
mollifying
pacifying
calming
reassuring
alleviating
mitigating
palliating
lenient
tolerant
patient
long-suffering
forbearing
merciful
benign
affable
amiable
warm
friendly
approachable
congenial
cordial
hospitable
gracious
obliging
accommodating
helpful
supportive
consoling
solacing
Meaning of Sympathetic
Having or showing a feeling of sympathy, especially for someone who is suffering or in a difficult situation.
Definitions
- Having or showing a feeling of sympathy, especially for someone who is suffering or in a difficult situation
- Relating to or denoting the part of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for producing a 'fight or flight' response, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure
- (of a vibration or oscillation) having the same frequency as another, especially one that is forced or driven
Etymology of Sympathetic
The word "sympathetic" comes from the Greek word "sympathēs", meaning "having a fellow feeling", which is derived from "syn-" (together) and "pathos" (feeling)
The term has been used in English since the 16th century to describe a feeling of sympathy or compassion for someone
In the 17th century, the term also began to be used in a scientific context to describe the phenomenon of sympathetic vibration, where one object vibrates in response to the vibration of another object
Example Uses
- The nurse was very sympathetic to the patient's concerns and listened attentively to their problems
- The new policy is designed to be more sympathetic to the needs of low-income families
- The doctor explained that the patient's symptoms were caused by a sympathetic response to the medication
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
unsympathetic
unfeeling
uncaring
indifferent
callous
cruel
harsh
cold
unforgiving
unkind
inconsiderate
thoughtless
insensitive
brutal
ruthless
merciless
pitiless
heartless
indifferent
apathetic
unconcerned
unresponsive
unemotional
impassive
detached
aloof
distant
remote