compassion

[ kuhm-pash-uhn ]

noun

1. a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

   Synonyms: tenderness, commiseration, clemency, heart, mercy

   Antonyms: mercilessness, indifference

verb (used with object)

1. Archaic. to have compassion for; compassionate.

compassion

/ kəmˈpæʃən /

noun

1. a feeling of distress and pity for the suffering or misfortune of another, often including the desire to alleviate it

Other Words From

• com·passion·less adjective
• uncom·passion noun
• uncom·passioned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of compassion¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Late Latin compassiōn- (stem of compassiō ). See com-, passion

Word History and Origins

Origin of compassion¹

C14: from Old French, from Late Latin compassiō fellow feeling, from compatī to suffer with, from Latin com- with + patī to bear, suffer

Synonym Study

See sympathy.

Example Sentences

He said their offences went against any sense of compassion and were "beyond comprehension for most of society".

From BBC

But in the Nov. 5 election, voters across the region made it clear there are limits to their compassion.

From Los Angeles Times

San Francisco Mayor London Breed says she’s learned the hard way that, when it comes to running a city, compassion has its limits.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s impossible not to feel some compassion for Kamala Harris, who, after the sugar-high of late August and early September, proved to be the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time.

From Salon

“It’s been such a long time coming. My hope is that we start to see just a bit more compassion towards birth families - they are so often seen as the problem.”

From BBC

Related Words

• benevolence
• empathy
• grace
• humanity
• kindness
• mercy
• sorrow
• sympathy
• tenderness