sympathy

[sim-puh-thee]

noun

plural

sympathies 

1. the act or state of feeling sorrow or compassion for another.

   I can do no more than express my deep sympathy for you in your loss.

2. agreement in feelings or emotions between people or on the part of one person toward another, especially as based on similar tastes, shared understanding, etc..

   The characters are odious and self-serving, and neither arouses any sympathy in the reader.

   Synonyms: affinity, rapport, understanding, concord

3. sympathies,

   1. feelings or impulses of compassion.

      The mayor extends her deepest sympathies to all those affected by the bridge collapse.

   2. feelings of favor, support, or loyalty.

      It's hard to tell where your sympathies lie.

4. favor or approval.

   He viewed the plan with sympathy and publicly backed it.

5. agreement, consonance, or accord.

   It's difficult not to have some sympathy with the sentiments expressed.

6. Psychology.,  a relationship between persons in which the condition of one induces a parallel or reciprocal condition in another.

7. Physiology.,  the relation between parts or organs whereby a condition or disorder of one part induces some effect in another.

adjective

1. expressing sympathy.

   A sympathy card can be an encouraging ray of light to someone who has recently lost a loved one.

   Some suspect the nomination was a sympathy vote rather than a true reflection of her qualifications.

sympathy

/ ˈsɪmpəθɪ /

noun

1. the sharing of another's emotions, esp of sorrow or anguish; pity; compassion

2. an affinity or harmony, usually of feelings or interests, between persons or things

   to be in sympathy with someone

3. mutual affection or understanding arising from such a relationship; congeniality

4. the condition of a physical system or body when its behaviour is similar or corresponds to that of a different system that influences it, such as the vibration of sympathetic strings

5. (sometimes plural) a feeling of loyalty, support, or accord, as for an idea, cause, etc

6. physiol the mutual relationship between two organs or parts whereby a change in one has an effect on the other

Other Word Forms

• nonsympathy noun
• presympathy noun
• supersympathy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sympathy¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin sympathīa, from Greek sympátheia, equivalent to sympathe-, stem of sympathḗs “sympathetic” ( sym- sym- + páth(os) “suffering, sensation” + -ēs adjective suffix) + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of sympathy¹

C16: from Latin sympathīa, from Greek sumpatheia, from sumpathēs, from _syn- + pathos suffering

Synonym Study

Sympathy, compassion, pity, empathy all denote the tendency, practice, or capacity to share in the feelings of others, especially their distress, sorrow, or unfulfilled desires. Sympathy is the broadest of these terms, signifying a general kinship with another's feelings, no matter of what kind: in sympathy with her yearning for peace and freedom; to extend sympathy to the bereaved. Compassion implies a deep sympathy for the sorrows or troubles of another coupled to a powerful urge to alleviate the pain or distress or to remove its source: to show compassion for homeless refugees. Pity usually suggests a kindly, but sometimes condescending, sorrow aroused by the suffering or ill fortune of others, often leading to a show of mercy: tears of pity for war casualties; to have pity on a thief driven by hunger. Empathy most often refers to a vicarious participation in the emotions, ideas, or opinions of others, the ability to imagine oneself in the condition or predicament of another: empathy with those striving to improve their lives; to feel empathy with Hamlet as one watches the play.

Example Sentences

There is internal sympathy - combined with realism - that other games could have had different outcomes had it not been for individual errors, injuries or loss of form.

From BBC

Over the last 45 years, Gould observes, the board’s treatment of collective bargaining rights has swung widely between Republican hostility and Democratic sympathy.

From Los Angeles Times

The university has expressed its deepest sympathies but said the "tragic error" over Ethan's grade was an isolated incident.

From BBC

"Emma had just publicly poured more petrol on the flames, yet thought a one line expression of concern from her would reassure me of her fundamental sympathy and kindness."

From BBC

These are times so surreal that even one of cinema’s most nostalgia-obsessed auteurs felt compelled to return to the present, if only to offer some sympathy.

From Salon

Related Words

• compassion 
• empathy 
• kindness 
• pity 
• sensitivity 
• understanding 
• warmth 

When To Use

What does sympathy mean?

Sympathy most commonly means the sharing of emotions with someone else, especially sadness.This is usually understood to mean that you feel bad for them because they are in a negative situation.Sympathy is sometimes used to mean compassion. The plural form sympathies refers to feelings of compassion, as in We need to offer our sympathies for their loss, or to support or loyalty, as in The governor has earned the sympathies of the working class. Sympathy is also sometimes used in a general way to refer to agreement, as in Their political positions are largely in sympathy with each other.Someone who has sympathy for someone or a cause can be described as sympathetic. To feel sympathy for someone is to sympathize with them.Some people use the word sympathy interchangeably or in overlapping ways with the word empathy, which is the ability or practice of imagining or trying to deeply understand what someone else is feeling or what it’s like to be in their situation. However, others distinguish the two terms by emphasizing the importance of having empathy for others (feeling their pain) as opposed to having sympathy for them (feeling sorry for them).Example: I’ve experienced the same thing, so I have sympathy for them.