sympathize

[ sim-puh-thahyz ]
See synonyms for: sympathizesympathizing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),sym·pa·thized, sym·pa·thiz·ing.
  1. to be in sympathy or agreement of feeling; share in a feeling (often followed by with).

  2. to feel a compassionate sympathy, as for suffering or trouble (often followed by with).

  1. to express sympathy or condole (often followed by with).

  2. to be in approving accord, as with a person or cause: to sympathize with a person's aims.

  3. to agree, correspond, or accord.

Origin of sympathize

1
First recorded in 1580–90; from Middle French sympathiser; from sympath(ie) sympathy + -iser -ize
  • Also especially British, sym·pa·thise .

Other words for sympathize

Other words from sympathize

  • sym·pa·thiz·ing·ly, adverb
  • non·sym·pa·thiz·ing, adjective
  • non·sym·pa·thiz·ing·ly, adverb
  • pre·sym·pa·thize, verb (used without object), pre·sym·pa·thized, pre·sym·pa·thiz·ing.
  • un·sym·pa·thized, adjective
  • un·sym·pa·thiz·ing, adjective
  • un·sym·pa·thiz·ing·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with sympathize

Words Nearby sympathize

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use sympathize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sympathize

sympathize

sympathise

/ (ˈsɪmpəˌθaɪz) /


verb(intr often foll by with)
  1. to feel or express compassion or sympathy (for); commiserate: he sympathized with my troubles

  2. to share or understand the sentiments or ideas (of); be in sympathy (with)

Derived forms of sympathize

  • sympathizer or sympathiser, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012