compassion

[kuhm-pash-uhn]

noun

1. a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

   Synonyms: clemency, heart, tenderness, mercy, commiseration
   Antonyms: indifference, mercilessness

verb (used with object)

1. Archaic.,  to have compassion for; compassionate.

compassion

/ kəmˈpæʃən /

noun

1. a feeling of distress and pity for the suffering or misfortune of another, often including the desire to alleviate it

Other Word Forms

• compassionless adjective
• uncompassion noun
• uncompassioned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of compassion¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Late Latin compassiōn- (stem of compassiō ). See com-, passion

Word History and Origins

Origin of compassion¹

C14: from Old French, from Late Latin compassiō fellow feeling, from compatī to suffer with, from Latin com- with + patī to bear, suffer

Synonym Study

See sympathy.

Example Sentences

"We deeply appreciate the Good Samaritan's compassion and remind all Kenyans that true coexistence means protecting wildlife," the agency said.

Read more on BBC

Messrs. Morel and White remind us that in an age as fractured as their own, Lincoln and Douglass upheld dignity and compassion.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Then the speaker asks for wisdom and compassion to guide the council members toward actions that benefit all residents of the town and move the community forward.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Our settlements balance our obligation to compensate victims and treat their experiences with compassion with the need to put strong protections in place to protect taxpayers from fraud,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a statement.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The mother, Sarah, is quickly apprehended, but Mother’s compassion inspires her to welcome both Sarah and her child into her home.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• benevolence 
• empathy 
• grace 
• humanity 
• kindness 
• mercy 
• sorrow 
• sympathy 
• tenderness www.thesaurus.com

When To Use

What does compassion mean?

Compassion is a feeling of sympathy or pity for others, especially one that makes you want to help them.Compassion is sometimes used interchangeably with sympathy, which most most commonly means the sharing of emotions with someone else, especially sadness. Both words are used in the context of feeling sorry for people who are in negative situations. But compassion is often understood as a feeling that motivates you to help them.The opposite of compassion is often thought to be indifference or cold-heartedness.Someone who has compassion for others can be described as compassionate. Being compassionate typically means you care and you want to help.Example: We should treat people with compassion because that’s how we want to be treated.