compassionate

American  

[kuhm-pash-uh-nit, kuhm-pash-uh-neyt] / kəmˈpæʃ ə nɪt, kəmˈpæʃ əˌneɪt /

adjective

1. having or showing compassion.

   a compassionate person; a compassionate letter.

   Synonyms:

   tender, sympathetic, pitying

2. granted in an emergency.

   compassionate military leave granted to attend a funeral.

3. Obsolete. pitiable.

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verb (used with object)

compassionated, compassionating

1. Archaic. to pity or have compassion for.

compassionate British  

/ kəmˈpæʃənət /

adjective

1. showing or having compassion

2. leave granted, esp to a serviceman, on the grounds of bereavement, family illness, etc

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Usage

What does compassionate mean? Compassionate means having compassion—a feeling of sympathy or pity for others, especially one that makes you want to help them.Being compassionate typically means you care and you want to help. The word can describe a person, their actions, or a situation that involves or is based on compassion.The word compassion is sometimes used interchangeably with sympathy, and compassionate is sometimes used to mean sympathetic, which most most commonly means sharing emotions with someone else, especially sadness. These words are all used in the context of feeling sorry for people who are in negative situations. But being compassionate is often understood as having a feeling that motivates you to help them.The opposite of being compassionate is being uncompassionate—indifferent or cold-hearted.The word compassionate can also be used in a more specific way to mean granted in circumstances that call for compassion. The word is used this way in the phrase compassionate leave, which refers to permission to be absent, such as from military duty, due to a death or illness in the family or other personal reasons.Example: We should be compassionate toward others because that’s how we want to be treated.

Other Word Forms

• compassionately adverb
• compassionateness noun
• uncompassionate adjective
• uncompassionately adverb
• uncompassionateness noun

Etymology

Origin of compassionate

First recorded in 1580–90; compassion + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

He described Tumbler Ridge as a town of miners, teachers and construction workers who represent "the very best of Canada: resilient, compassionate and strong."

From Barron's

It aims to tell a complicated story in a compassionate, nuanced way.

From The Wall Street Journal

I also realized that sometimes the compassionate response is the one that sets firm boundaries.

From The Wall Street Journal

And each has to be compassionate to the other.

From The Wall Street Journal

But being brave and compassionate, that took more.

From Literature

Related Words

• benevolent
• charitable
• humane
• merciful
• sympathetic
• warm
• warmhearted