sympathetic
[ sim-puh-thet-ik ]
/ ˌsɪm pəˈθɛt ɪk /
adjective
characterized by, proceeding from, exhibiting, or feeling sympathy; sympathizing; compassionate: a sympathetic listener.
acting or affected by, of the nature of, or pertaining to a special affinity or mutual relationship; congenial: With their many similar tastes, he found her a most sympathetic companion.
looking upon with favor (often followed by to or toward): She is sympathetic to the project.
Anatomy, Physiology.
- pertaining to that part of the autonomic nervous system consisting of nerves that arise from the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord, and functioning in opposition to the parasympathetic system, as in stimulating heartbeat, dilating the pupil of the eye, etc.
- Obsolete. pertaining to the autonomic nervous system in its entirety.
Physics. noting or pertaining to vibrations, sounds, etc., produced by a body as the direct result of similar vibrations in a different body.
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SYNONYMS FOR sympathetic
OTHER WORDS FROM sympathetic
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH sympathetic
empathetic, sympathetic , simpaticoDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for sympathetic
British Dictionary definitions for sympathetic
sympathetic
/ (ˌsɪmpəˈθɛtɪk) /
adjective
characterized by, feeling, or showing sympathy; understanding
in accord with the subject's personality or mood; congeniala sympathetic atmosphere
(when postpositive, often foll by to or towards) showing agreement (with) or favour (towards)sympathetic to the proposals
anatomy physiol of or relating to the division of the autonomic nervous system that acts in opposition to the parasympathetic system accelerating the heartbeat, dilating the bronchi, inhibiting the smooth muscles of the digestive tract, etcCompare parasympathetic
relating to vibrations occurring as a result of similar vibrations in a neighbouring bodysympathetic strings on a sitar
Derived forms of sympathetic
sympathetically, adverbCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medical definitions for sympathetic
sympathetic
[ sĭm′pə-thĕt′ĭk ]
adj.
Of, relating to, or acting on the sympathetic nervous system.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.