sympathy
noun
sym·pa·thy ˈsim-pə-thē 
plural sympathies
1
a
: an affinity, association, or relationship between persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the other
b
: mutual or parallel susceptibility or a condition brought about by it
c
: unity or harmony in action or effect
every part is in complete sympathy with the scheme as a whole
Edwin Benson
Edwin Benson2
a
: inclination to think or feel alike : emotional or intellectual accord
in sympathy with their goals
b
: feeling of loyalty : tendency to favor or support
republican sympathies
3
a
: the act or capacity of entering into or sharing the feelings or interests of another
b
: the feeling or mental state brought about by such sensitivity
have sympathy for the poor
4
: the correlation existing between bodies capable of communicating their vibrational energy to one another through some medium
Synonyms
- commiseration
- compassion
- feeling
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She went to her best friend for sympathy. Letters of sympathy were sent to the families of the victims. My deepest sympathies go out to the families of the victims. Our sympathies are with them. There was no sympathy between them.
Recent Examples on the Web There was some sympathy for Elizabeth and the circumstances she was born under and then thrust into. The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Sep. 2022 There was some sympathy for the Elizabeth and the circumstances she was born under and then thrust into. Cara Anna, Danica Coto And Rodney Muhumuza, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Sep. 2022 But the couple won sympathy in summer 1999 when it was revealed that Raisa Gorbachev was dying of leukemia. The Salt Lake Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022 But the couple won sympathy in summer 1999 when it was revealed that Raisa Gorbachev was dying of leukemia. Jim Heintz, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2022 But the couple won sympathy in summer 1999 when it was revealed that Raisa Gorbachev was dying of leukemia. Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022 Up there, the 59-year-old delivered a few quick, self-deprecating lines, courting the sympathy of the young crowd below. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 30 Aug. 2022 But the couple won sympathy in summer 1999 when it was revealed that Raisa Gorbachev was dying of leukemia. Jim Heintz, ajc, 30 Aug. 2022 Another worker, recently fired, sets up a personal protest camp in front of the firm’s factory, thus earning the sympathy of the security guard. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2022 See More
The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Sep. 2022 There was some sympathy for the Elizabeth and the circumstances she was born under and then thrust into. Cara Anna, Danica Coto And Rodney Muhumuza, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Sep. 2022 But the couple won sympathy in summer 1999 when it was revealed that Raisa Gorbachev was dying of leukemia. The Salt Lake Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022 But the couple won sympathy in summer 1999 when it was revealed that Raisa Gorbachev was dying of leukemia. Jim Heintz, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2022 But the couple won sympathy in summer 1999 when it was revealed that Raisa Gorbachev was dying of leukemia. Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022 Up there, the 59-year-old delivered a few quick, self-deprecating lines, courting the sympathy of the young crowd below. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 30 Aug. 2022 But the couple won sympathy in summer 1999 when it was revealed that Raisa Gorbachev was dying of leukemia. Jim Heintz, ajc, 30 Aug. 2022 Another worker, recently fired, sets up a personal protest camp in front of the firm’s factory, thus earning the sympathy of the security guard. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin sympathia, from Greek sympatheia, from sympathēs having common feelings, sympathetic, from syn- + pathos feelings, emotion, experience — more at pathos
First Known Use
1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing sympathy
Kids Definition
sympathy
noun
sym·pa·thy ˈsim-pə-thē
plural sympathies
1
: sorrow or pity for another
She felt sympathy for the poor lost puppy.
2
: readiness to favor or support
He expressed sympathy for the protesters.
3
: a relationship between people or things in which whatever affects one similarly affects the other
Medical Definition
sympathy
noun
sym·pa·thy ˈsim-pə-thē
plural sympathies
1
a
: an affinity, association, or relationship between persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the other
b
: mutual or parallel susceptibility or a condition brought about by it
2
a
: the act or capacity of entering into or sharing the feelings or interests of another
b
: the feeling or mental state brought about by such sensitivity
sympathy
noun
1
as in compassion
sorrow or the capacity to feel sorrow for another's suffering or misfortune since losing her own brother to lung disease, the nurse has had greater sympathy for families going through the same agony Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- compassion
- empathy
- commiseration
- feeling
- pity
- regret
- kindness
- condolence
- mercy
- generosity
- understanding
- sensitivity
- affinity
- ruth
- humanity
- humaneness
- kindliness
- goodwill
- magnanimity
- altruism
- benevolence
- rapport
- kindheartedness
- warmheartedness
- humanitarianism
- benignity
- largesse
- softheartedness
- charity
- philanthropy
- largess
- largeheartedness
- bigheartedness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- indifference
- heartlessness
- callousness
- hatred
- cruelty
- insensitivity
- animosity
- hostility
- unconcern
- coldheartedness
- antipathy
- hard-heartedness
- inhumanity
- harshness
- dislike
2
as in kindness
the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune the least you could do is have some sympathy for me if I have to stay home Synonyms & Similar Words
- kindness
- compassion
- pity
- feelings
- commiseration
- heart
- generosity
- mercy
- feeling
- sensitivity
- ruth
- humanity
- empathy
- kindliness
- kindheartedness
- good-heartedness
- affection
- responsiveness
- warmheartedness
- charity
- love
- sensibility
- regard
- largeheartedness
- softheartedness
- bigheartedness
- affinity
- goodwill
- altruism
- rapport
- benevolence
- humaneness
- humanism
- humanitarianism
- benignity
- philanthropy
- benignancy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- indifference
- inhumanity
- mercilessness
- pitilessness
- coldness
- disinterest
- hatred
- callousness
- cruelty
- unconcern
- animosity
- coldheartedness
- hostility
- antipathy
- hard-heartedness
- harshness
- inhumanness
- dislike
Synonym Chooser
The words affinity and attraction are common synonyms of sympathy. While all three words mean "the relationship existing between things or persons that are naturally or involuntarily drawn together," sympathy implies a reciprocal or natural relation between two things that are both susceptible to the same influence.
two minds in sympathy
The meanings of affinity and sympathy largely overlap; however, affinity implies a susceptibility or predisposition on the part of the one drawn.
an affinity for mathematics
In some situations, the words attraction and sympathy are roughly equivalent. However, attraction implies the possession by one thing of a quality that pulls another to it.
felt an attraction to danger