sympathy
noun
sym·pa·thy
ˈsim-pə-thē 
plural sympathies
1
a
: an affinity, association, or relationship between persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the other
b
: mutual or parallel susceptibility or a condition brought about by it
c
: unity or harmony in action or effect
every part is in complete sympathy with the scheme as a whole—
Edwin Benson
Edwin Benson2
a
: inclination to think or feel alike : emotional or intellectual accord
in sympathy with their goals
b
: feeling of loyalty : tendency to favor or support
republican sympathies
3
a
: the act or capacity of entering into or sharing the feelings or interests of another
b
: the feeling or mental state brought about by such sensitivity
have sympathy for the poor
4
: the correlation existing between bodies capable of communicating their vibrational energy to one another through some medium
Examples of sympathy in a Sentence
She went to her best friend for sympathy.
Letters of sympathy were sent to the families of the victims.
My deepest sympathies go out to the families of the victims.
Our sympathies are with them.
There was no sympathy between them.
Recent Examples on the Web
For now, at least, the tragic backstories primarily serve as shortcuts to drum up sympathy for these characters.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
As Wang attempts to bring a couple back from the edge of crisis, sympathies shift between husband, wife and mistress while emotion, pragmatism and cultural norms collide.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
Within days of contacting the account, Earl – whose correspondence revealed sympathy for Russia’s war – had been given his first target for an arson attack, the warehouse owned by a Ukrainian man.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Prosecutors said Mascia shot himself in an apparent attempt to receive attention and sympathy.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sympathy
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Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
As Wang attempts to bring a couple back from the edge of crisis, sympathies shift between husband, wife and mistress while emotion, pragmatism and cultural norms collide.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
Within days of contacting the account, Earl – whose correspondence revealed sympathy for Russia’s war – had been given his first target for an arson attack, the warehouse owned by a Ukrainian man.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Prosecutors said Mascia shot himself in an apparent attempt to receive attention and sympathy.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sympathy
Cite this Entry
“Sympathy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sympathy. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sympathy
noun
sym·pa·thy
ˈsim-pə-thē
plural sympathies
1
: a relationship between persons or things in which whatever affects one also affects the other
2
a
: the readiness to think or feel alike that makes for a common bond
b
: readiness to favor or support
3
: the act of or capacity for entering into or sharing the feelings or interests of another
4
: a showing of sorrow for another's loss, grief, or misfortune
Medical Definition
sympathy
noun
sym·pa·thy
ˈsim-pə-thē
plural sympathies
1
a
: an affinity, association, or relationship between persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the other
b
: mutual or parallel susceptibility or a condition brought about by it
2
a
: the act or capacity of entering into or sharing the feelings or interests of another
b
: the feeling or mental state brought about by such sensitivity
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