sympathetic
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /ˌsɪm.pəˈθɛt.ɪk/
KK: /sɪmˈpæθɪk/
adjective
Definition
Showing kindness and understanding towards someone else's feelings or situation.
Example
She gave him a sympathetic smile when he shared his troubles.
Comparatives & Superlatives
Comparative: more sympathetic
Superlative: most sympathetic
Conversation
I noticed you were really sympathetic to her situation yesterday.
Yeah, I felt bad for her; she’s been going through a lot.
It’s nice to see someone being so sympathetic these days.
I think we all need to show a little more kindness to each other.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
compassionate
understanding
empathetic
Antonyms
unsympathetic
indifferent
callous
noun
Definition
A person who shows understanding and compassion towards others' feelings or situations.
Example
She was a sympathetic friend who always listened to my problems.
Conversation
I visited that new art exhibit yesterday, and I was really impressed.
Oh nice! Was there anything particularly sympathetic about the artworks?
Definitely! Some pieces really seem to express deep emotions.
Root Explanation
Sympathetic → It is formed from "sym-" (meaning together) and "pathos" (meaning feeling or suffering). The word describes a state of sharing feelings or suffering with others, indicating compassion or understanding.
Memory Tip
Think of 'together' ('sym-') with 'feelings' ('pathos') — that's why sympathetic means sharing in someone else's feelings.
Visually Confused Words
unsympathetic
nonsympathetic
vagosympathetic
parasympathetic
pathetic
mathetic
synanthetic
dyspathetic