commiseration

[ kuh-miz-uh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of empathizing, or expressing sympathy or sorrow for someone about something:

   Taking the seat next to him, she put her arm around his shoulders in silent commiseration.

2. commiserations, an expression of sympathy or sorrow for someone:

   All my thanks and commiserations to the dedicated staff, many of whom I expect will lose their jobs in the cutbacks.

Other Words From

• non·com·mis·er·a·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of commiseration¹

First recorded in 1570–80; commiserat(e) ( def ) + -ion ( def )

Example Sentences

But commiseration and understanding aren’t enough, and real psychological help isn’t something to be found in a subreddit.

From Slate

But commiseration and understanding aren’t enough, and real psychological help isn’t something to be found in a subreddit.

From Slate

The reaction to her video, which has been viewed more than 400,000 times and has drawn comments of both commiseration and condemnation, shows how deeply personal and divisive the issue remains in the run up to the November elections.

From New York Times

A celebration of Black women, and a ticked-off commiseration for all the nonsense thrown their way, it names a host of psychic poisons and puts them on display.

From New York Times

But it’s also a forum for animated commiseration about the state of gun regulation in California.

From Los Angeles Times