sympathetic
pronunciation
How to pronounce sympathetic in British English:
UK [ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk]
How to pronounce sympathetic in American English:
US [ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk]
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- Adjective:
- of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system
- expressing or feeling or resulting from sympathy or compassion or friendly fellow feelings; disposed toward
- having similar disposition and tastes
- showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
- (of characters in literature or drama) evoking empathic or sympathetic feelings
- relating to vibrations that occur as a result of vibrations in a nearby body
Word Origin
- sympathetic (adj.)
- 1640s, "pertaining to sympathy," from Modern Latin sympatheticus, from late Greek sympathetikos "having sympathy," from sympathein, from sympathes "having a fellow feeling, affected by like feelings" (see sympathy). In English, the meaning "having fellow feeling, susceptible to altruistic feelings" is recorded from 1718. In the anatomical sense, "subject to a common nervous influence," the word is attested from 1769, from Modern Latin (nervus) sympathicus, coined by Jacques-Benigne Winslow (1669-1760), Danish anatomist living in Paris. Related: Sympathetical (1630s); Sympathetically (1620s).
Synonym
tearful thoughtful kind-hearted big-hearted warm-hearted fond heartbroken pitying gentle heart compassionate charitable generous kindly concerned having consoling humane tender good loving good-natured bleeding solicitous kind warm considerate ruthful sensitive grief-stricken sorrowful affectionate empathetic understanding a supportive comforting caring feeling commiserative
Antonym
Example
- 1. But my first instincts were sympathetic to mr murdoch .
- 2. Some sympathetic non-mormons also admire him .
- 3. Several other countries also support this , so mr cameron should gain a sympathetic hearing .
- 4. Another is to intervene , overthrow the islamists and install a sympathetic government .
- 5. Even then it took a sympathetic bankruptcy judge to convince a group of recalcitrant lenders that it was in their best interest to drop their opposition .