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Definition of compassion

compassion

/kəmˈpæʃ.ən/
com · pas · sion
Adverb:compassionately
•
Adjective:compassionate
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compassion Lexical Profile

compassion Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Sympathetic pity and deep concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others, accompanied by a strong desire to help alleviate them.

Example

"The nurses treated every patient with extraordinary kindness and compassion."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for compassion
Antonyms
View all antonyms for compassion

Word Nuance & Usage

While 'empathy' refers to the ability to share and understand another's feelings, and 'sympathy' means feeling sorrow or pity for someone's misfortune, 'compassion' goes a step further by combining deep sympathetic awareness with an active desire to alleviate their suffering.

• Rhymes for compassion

• Nearby Words

compartment
compartmentalize
compass
compassion
compassionate
compassionately
compassionless

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the 14th century from Old French compassion, from Ecclesiastical Latin compassio ('fellow feeling'), derived from compati ('to suffer together with'), from com- ('together') and pati ('to suffer').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Compassion. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/compassion
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