commiseration

American  

[kuh-miz-uh-rey-shuhn] / kəˌmɪz əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of empathizing, or expressing sympathy or sorrow for someone about something.

   Taking the seat next to him, she put her arm around his shoulders in silent commiseration.

2. commiserations, an expression of sympathy or sorrow for someone.

   All my thanks and commiserations to the dedicated staff, many of whom I expect will lose their jobs in the cutbacks.

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Other Word Forms

• noncommiseration
  noun

Etymology

Origin of commiseration

First recorded in 1570–80; commiserat(e) ( def. ) + -ion ( def. )

Explanation

Commiseration refers to feelings of sympathy for other people. If a friend's pet dies, you will probably want to express your commiseration. If you are feeling commiseration for someone, they are probably going through difficult times. We feel commiseration when others suffer or feel pain and we understand that pain. We commiserate with them. The Latin root com- means "together with." Just as communication and community are words involving getting people together, commiseration is about feeling other people's pain.

Example Sentences

Talking about it with other people strikes up genuine conversation and commiseration.

From Salon • May 22, 2025

With their local groups, people mostly posted helpful advice or commiseration.

From Slate • Jan. 11, 2025

Even among more put-together attendees, private Slack channels were reportedly awash in commiseration.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2023

The pair go on to gather with other Black men whose partners died in a similar way, finding comfort and commiseration in each other.

From New York Times • Jul. 19, 2022

The chaplain raised his eyes quickly in obsequious commiseration.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller