Definition & Meaning of “Sympathy”
- Term: Sympathy
- Pronunciation: /ˈsɪm.pə.θi/
- Part of Speech: Noun
- Meaning: The feeling of pity or sorrow for someone else’s misfortune, often paired with a desire to help or comfort.
Grammatical Formation
- Base Form (Noun): sympathy
- Verb: sympathize (/ˈsɪm.pə.ˌθaɪz/)
- Adjective: sympathetic (/ˌsɪm.pəˈθɛtɪk/)
- Adverb: sympathetically (/ˌsɪm.pəˈθɛtɪkli/)
- Usage Examples:
- She offered her sympathy at the funeral.
- He sympathized with her loss.
Synonyms
compassion, pity, commiseration, condolence, understanding, concern
Antonyms
indifference, apathy, callousness, insensitivity, detachment
Related Terms
empathy, condolence, commiseration, compassion, kindness, support
Simple Explanation
Sympathy means feeling sorry for someone who is sad or hurt and wanting to comfort them.
Common Collocations
- express sympathy
- offer sympathy
- extend sympathy
- words of sympathy
- heartfelt sympathy
Idiomatic Usage & Contexts
- “My sympathies” – a formal way to say you’re sorry for someone’s loss.
- “Feel for someone” – to feel sympathy.
- “At my lowest ebb” – context of needing sympathy.
Contexts:
- Loss and bereavement (“I sent a sympathy card.”)
- Illness or hardship (“She had sympathy for his struggle.”)
- Everyday setbacks (“He showed sympathy when I missed the meeting.”)
Sample Sentences
- Please accept my deepest sympathy on your loss.
- She showed sympathy when he explained his difficult situation.
- Colleagues offered their sympathy after the layoff.
- He sympathized with her fear of public speaking.
- A kind word can express more sympathy than a long speech.
Does ‘Sympathy’ Have Any Relationship to Sexuality?
While sympathy itself is not a sexual term, expressing sympathy in intimate relationships builds trust and emotional safety—key foundations for healthy sexual connection and consent.
Sexopedia.co is an educational glossary of sexual and gender-related terms—helping you improve your English while deepening your understanding of identity, sexuality, and self-expression.