sympathize
sympathize Lexical Profile
sympathize Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To feel or express pity, compassion, or sorrow for someone's misfortune or distress.
"Having gone through a similar loss last year, she could deeply sympathize with her grieving neighbor."
To agree with or support a sentiment, opinion, or political cause (usually followed by 'with').
"Many local residents sympathize with the striking teachers' demands for smaller class sizes."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Sympathize' involves feeling pity, sorrow, or concern for someone's hardship, whereas 'empathize' involves directly understanding and vicariously sharing another person's feelings as if they were one's own.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 16th century from Middle French sympathiser, derived from Late Latin sympathia and Ancient Greek sympatheia ('fellow-feeling, community of feeling'), from syn- ('together') and pathos ('feeling, suffering').