Skip to content

What is another word for Sympathetic? – 199 Sympathetic Synonyms

    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