sympathizer

[sim-puh-thahy-zer]

noun

1. a person who sympathizes.

2. Ophthalmology.,  an eye that exhibits ophthalmia because of disease or injury of the other.

Other Word Forms

• nonsympathizer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sympathizer¹

First recorded in 1805–15; sympathize + -er ¹

Example Sentences

As we descend, any poor Tano sympathizers who enter the stairwell and try to stop us are immediately faced with the wrath of the raging blade.

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He said it was standard practice in Diban, one of several towns where Islamic State has many sympathizers and exerts influence through intimidation.

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That isn’t what I heard when I talked with rally attendees from my synagogue, not exactly a nest of Marxist Hamas sympathizers.

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But Hoover would be delighted to see Patel pushing the FBI back to its original mission: relentlessly persecuting people with funny names, foreign connections and undesirable opinions, and intimidating their domestic sympathizers into silence.

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In the lead-up to the Iraq War in 2003, dissenters were warned to be careful of what they said, lest they risk being seen as terrorist sympathizers.

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Related Words

• ally 
• backer 
• collaborator 
• supporter 

When To Use

What does sympathizer mean?

Sympathizer most commonly refers to someone who is supportive of or loyal to someone or something, such as a leader or cause.The verb sympathize most commonly means to feel sympathy with someone—to share their emotions, especially sadness. This is usually understood to mean that you feel bad for them because they are in a negative situation. The word sympathizer can be used to mean someone who sympathizes in this way. It can also refer to someone who offers their sympathies or condolences, such as to someone who is in mourning.But sympathizer is especially used to refer to someone who identifies with, supports, or is sympathetic toward a certain cause. This sense of the word is usually used in a negative way to criticize such support, and often implies that such support is secret or at least not fully open. This is the way the word is used in the phrase Communist sympathizer.Example: We condemn not only the people directly responsible for these attacks but also their sympathizers.