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.

---

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

A celebration of Black women, and a ticked-off commiseration for all the nonsense thrown their way, it names a host of psychic poisons and puts them on display.

From New York Times • Jan. 12, 2024

Instead, they were mostly gestures of commiseration after the tech giant began cutting 18,000 jobs that January morning.

From Washington Post • Apr. 8, 2023

“Oh, yes,” the black leaders would respond, smiling ruefully and shaking their heads in commiseration, “we appreciate your delicate position. However, we have our positions to consider, too...”

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson