commiserate

[ kuh-miz-uh-reyt ]

verb (used without object)

, com·mis·er·at·ed, com·mis·er·at·ing.

1. to sympathize (usually followed by with ):

   They commiserated with him over the loss of his job.

verb (used with object)

, com·mis·er·at·ed, com·mis·er·at·ing.

1. to feel or express sorrow or sympathy for; empathize with; pity.

commiserate

/ kəˈmɪzəˌreɪt /

verb

1. whenintr, usually foll by with to feel or express sympathy or compassion (for)

Derived Forms

• comˌmiseˈration, noun
• comˈmiserˌator, noun
• comˈmiserative, adjective
• comˈmiseratively, adverb
• comˈmiserable, adjective

Other Words From

• com·mis·er·a·ble adjective
• com·mis·er·a·tion [k, uh, -miz-, uh, -, rey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• com·mis·er·a·tive adjective
• com·mis·er·a·tive·ly adverb
• com·mis·er·a·tor noun
• non·com·mis·er·a·tive adjective
• non·com·mis·er·a·tive·ly adverb
• un·com·mis·er·at·ed adjective
• un·com·mis·er·at·ing adjective
• un·com·mis·er·a·tive adjective
• un·com·mis·er·a·tive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of commiserate¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from Latin commiserātus (past participle of commiserārī ), equivalent to com- com- + miser “pitiable” ( misery ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of commiserate¹

C17: from Latin commiserārī, from com- together + miserārī to bewail, pity, from miser wretched

Example Sentences

France's Kylian Portal, 17, missed out on a medal at his home Games by just 0.04secs, and Clegg made sure to commiserate the tearful teenager after the race.

From BBC

That's why their response to Trump playing up his minor injury with a diaper-sized bandage was not to commiserate with his pain.

From Salon

Gene Folkes had just been jettisoned as a contestant on “The Apprentice” and was commiserating with a crew member at a bar inside the lobby of Trump Tower.

From Seattle Times

Folkes said he had just been fired by Trump and was commiserating with a crew member inside a bar at Trump Tower.

From Seattle Times

I was disappointed, and my mom and I commiserated over the possibility that I had met another noncommittal dude.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• sympathize