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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sympathetic
The characters are petty, duplicitous, conniving — and also, somehow, strangely sympathetic.
—
Calum Marsh, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
While Wilken may be sympathetic to colleges’ financial situation, that’s not a legal reason to delay when the settlement starts.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Trump, who has argued that his own criminal charges against him were politicized, has appeared to have grown sympathetic towards Adams.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, discussions with daily contacts, siblings and neighbors will be kind and mutually sympathetic.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sympathetic
Calum Marsh, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
While Wilken may be sympathetic to colleges’ financial situation, that’s not a legal reason to delay when the settlement starts.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Trump, who has argued that his own criminal charges against him were politicized, has appeared to have grown sympathetic towards Adams.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, discussions with daily contacts, siblings and neighbors will be kind and mutually sympathetic.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sympathetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sympathetic
Adjective
-
Also there is having to balance being compassionate and caring while also remembering that this is a business.—
J.M. Banks,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2025
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But White and Jonas haven’t built an anxious or a particularly compassionate Jamie.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But land reform is so fundamental to how the current government took power that no citizen may portray it as anything other than a benevolent campaign that brought fairness and prosperity to China’s long-suffering farmers.—
Ian Johnson,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2025
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Analyzing the legendary unicorn tapestries hanging at the Met Cloisters in New York (augmented here by a gory new panel that depicts the suddenly fearsome animals disemboweling and impaling their aggressors), Ridley concludes that unicorns aren’t nearly as benevolent as most people think.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The long gap between seasons has not been kind to the show, which returned way down in the ratings this past fall.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2025
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Holly Marie Combs has nothing but kind words for the young Pretty Little Liars cast — and a couple of digs at her twentysomething self.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The pair both showed up to their second date on the beach with thoughtful gifts and eventually shared their first kiss before Tyler met Madison's family.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
10 Apr. 2025
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This is a complex matter requiring thoughtful consideration and a long-term perspective.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Once the animals left the vet and moved to the shelter, they were split up while there, as cats aren't housed in the dog boarding area of the humane society.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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The humane society is in Clearwater, west of Tampa.—
Simone Jasper,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sympathetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sympathetic. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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