commiseration

[kuh-miz-uh-rey-shuhn]

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.

Other Word Forms

• noncommiseration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of commiseration¹

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