simpatico
adjective
sim·pa·ti·co sim-ˈpä-ti-ˌkō 
-ˈpa-
1
: agreeable, likable
The Bachelor Duke was a highly simpatico figure, kind, humane, civilized—qualities that it is often difficult to recapture in a historical biography.
John Martin Robinson
John Martin Robinson2
: having shared qualities, interests, etc. : like-minded, sympathetic
These two artists are simpatico. Carlson, like Sorolla, works out-of-doors, directly from his subject … Kay Mayer
Kay MayerAndrea Sand's group of older mothers are simpatico because of their common age and experience. Barbara Hey
Barbara HeyWith the patronage of a simpatico Reagan, Casey took in hand a diminished CIA and molded it into a high-tech agency … William L. Chaze et al.
William L. Chaze et al.
Did you know?
Simpatico, which derives from the Greek noun sympatheia, meaning "sympathy," was borrowed into English from both Italian and Spanish. In those languages, the word has been chiefly used to describe people who are well-liked or easy to get along with; early uses of the word in English reflected this, as in Henry James's 1881 novel The Portrait of a Lady, in which a character says of another's dying cousin, "Ah, he was so simpatico. I’m awfully sorry for you." In recent years, however, the word's meaning has shifted. Now we see it used to describe the relationship between people who get along well or work well together.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Oboist Cassie Pilgrim and cellist Sarah Lewis were impressively simpatico, whether uniting for pulsating percussive rhythms or engaging in lyrical reveries. Rob Hubbard, Star Tribune, 10 May 2021 White House loyalties, that is, lie mainly with fossil fuel executives, whose interests aren’t exactly simpatico with those of their employees. Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 19 May 2020 There are also simpatico musicians, like Emmylou Harris and John Hiatt. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 11 July 2018 With Bungie came 2001 sci-fi shooter Halo: Combat Evolved and its instantly simpatico protagonist, Master Chief. SI.com, 4 July 2017 With Bungie came 2001 sci-fi shooter Halo: Combat Evolved and its instantly simpatico protagonist, Master Chief. SI.com, 4 July 2017 With Bungie came 2001 sci-fi shooter Halo: Combat Evolved and its instantly simpatico protagonist, Master Chief. SI.com, 4 July 2017 With Bungie came 2001 sci-fi shooter Halo: Combat Evolved and its instantly simpatico protagonist, Master Chief. SI.com, 4 July 2017 With Bungie came 2001 sci-fi shooter Halo: Combat Evolved and its instantly simpatico protagonist, Master Chief. Lisa Eadicicco, Time, 30 June 2017 See More
Rob Hubbard, Star Tribune, 10 May 2021 White House loyalties, that is, lie mainly with fossil fuel executives, whose interests aren’t exactly simpatico with those of their employees. Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 19 May 2020 There are also simpatico musicians, like Emmylou Harris and John Hiatt. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 11 July 2018 With Bungie came 2001 sci-fi shooter Halo: Combat Evolved and its instantly simpatico protagonist, Master Chief. SI.com, 4 July 2017 With Bungie came 2001 sci-fi shooter Halo: Combat Evolved and its instantly simpatico protagonist, Master Chief. SI.com, 4 July 2017 With Bungie came 2001 sci-fi shooter Halo: Combat Evolved and its instantly simpatico protagonist, Master Chief. SI.com, 4 July 2017 With Bungie came 2001 sci-fi shooter Halo: Combat Evolved and its instantly simpatico protagonist, Master Chief. SI.com, 4 July 2017 With Bungie came 2001 sci-fi shooter Halo: Combat Evolved and its instantly simpatico protagonist, Master Chief. Lisa Eadicicco, Time, 30 June 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Italian simpatico & Spanish simpático, ultimately from Latin sympathia sympathy
First Known Use
1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1