commiserate
verb
intransitive verb
transitive verb
Synonyms
- ache (for)
- bleed (for)
- compassionate
- condole (with)
- feel (for)
- pity
- sympathize (with)
- yearn (over)
Example Sentences
Alice Munro, Runaway, (2004) 2005 The other potters seemed to slump as one into dejection, all but abandoning their work in favor of long, lugubrious visits to the wine shop, where they commiserated with one another. Linda Sue Park, A Single Shard, (2001) 2003 "I been readin' about it," she said, referring to the recent breakup of my marriage. … "It's too bad," she commiserated. Arthur Miller, Timebends, 1987 The pain of losing is diverting. So is the thrill of winning. Winning, however, is lonelier, because those you've taken money from are not apt to commiserate with you. David Mamet, New York Times Magazine, 20 Apr. 1986 The players commiserated over their loss in the championship game. WSJ, 2 May 2022 The unexpected cancellations of both series this past week upset plenty of fans, who took to Twitter to mourn and commiserate. Amber Dowling, Variety, 2 May 2022 Exhibitors were able to visit neighboring booths and commiserate over supply chain issues, discuss industry trends, and talk shop about outdoor recreation in general. Steve Larese, Outside Online, 3 Aug. 2022 The experience of taking the cultural leap from Fox to Disney gave them plenty of chances to commiserate and compare notes on adjusting to the new world order together. Michael Schneider, Variety, 15 June 2022 When the shortage was announced, fans took to social media to commiserate. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 June 2022 In the sweltering heat, few had the bandwidth to commiserate about a conflict half a world away. Raffi Joe Wartanian, Outside Online, 8 Oct. 2020 But in the meantime, fellow Austenites on Twitter have gathered to commiserate. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 June 2022 The video has been viewed more than 2 millions times, with commenters chiming in to commiserate. Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
Latin commiseratus, past participle of commiserari, from com- + miserari to pity, from miser wretched
circa 1584, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
commiseration
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- sympathy
- compassion
- empathy
- feeling
- regret
- pity
- kindness
- condolence
- mercy
- generosity
- understanding
- ruth
- sensitivity
- humanity
- kindliness
- magnanimity
- humaneness
- affinity
- rapport
- goodwill
- benevolence
- altruism
- kindheartedness
- benignity
- warmheartedness
- humanitarianism
- largesse
- softheartedness
- charity
- philanthropy
- largess
- bigheartedness
- largeheartedness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- indifference
- callousness
- heartlessness
- cruelty
- unconcern
- hatred
- insensitivity
- hostility
- animosity
- inhumanity
- hard-heartedness
- coldheartedness
- harshness
- antipathy
- dislike
Synonyms & Similar Words
- sympathy
- kindness
- compassion
- pity
- heart
- feelings
- feeling
- generosity
- mercy
- ruth
- humanity
- kindliness
- sensitivity
- affection
- responsiveness
- kindheartedness
- warmheartedness
- empathy
- good-heartedness
- charity
- regard
- love
- softheartedness
- largeheartedness
- bigheartedness
- sensibility
- rapport
- affinity
- goodwill
- altruism
- humanism
- benevolence
- benignity
- humaneness
- humanitarianism
- philanthropy
- benignancy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- indifference
- inhumanity
- mercilessness
- disinterest
- coldness
- pitilessness
- callousness
- cruelty
- unconcern
- hatred
- hostility
- animosity
- hard-heartedness
- coldheartedness
- harshness
- inhumanness
- antipathy
- dislike
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of commiseration are compassion, condolence, pity, and sympathy. While all these words mean "the act or capacity for sharing the painful feelings of another," commiseration suggests pity expressed outwardly in exclamations, tears, or words of comfort.
The words compassion and commiseration can be used in similar contexts, but compassion implies pity coupled with an urgent desire to aid or to spare.
While the synonyms condolence and commiseration are close in meaning, condolence applies chiefly to formal expression of grief to one who has suffered loss.
While in some cases nearly identical to commiseration, pity implies tender or sometimes slightly contemptuous sorrow for one in misery or distress.
The words sympathy and commiseration are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sympathy often suggests a tender concern but can also imply a power to enter into another's emotional experience of any sort.