I empathize with him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I empathize with him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing understanding and sharing the feelings of someone else, particularly in a context of support or compassion. Example: "After hearing about his struggles, I empathize with him and want to help in any way I can."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I empathize with him.

The New York Times - Sports

"Charlie Brown -- I empathize with him," he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I empathized with him since part of my job was to raise money for the school and I, too, felt that more community money should be directed towards Jewish education.

Huffington Post

"I empathize with them.

The New York Times

I can't say I feel sorry for Kobe, but I guess I can empathize with him because we're all in the N.B.A. and we know it can be a tough situation, not knowing where you're going to be.

The New York Times - Sports

A: I don't know if I would have liked him as a person, but I certainly empathize with him.

Los Angeles Times

With Trump, I can empathize with him because he's alone, all of his idiosyncrasies are now exposed.

Vice

I try to empathize with him; however, the reality is that I am not living the nightmare that he and his family are living.

HuffPost

I empathize with the torturer.

The New Yorker

I empathize with grieving humanity.

The New York Times - Travel

I empathize with his feelings of jealousy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I empathize with him" to clearly express that you understand and share in another person's feelings or experiences. This phrase is effective when offering support or showing solidarity.

Common error

Avoid using "I empathize with him" when you actually mean you feel sorry for him (sympathy). Empathy involves understanding and sharing feelings, while sympathy is feeling pity or sorrow for someone else's misfortune.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I empathize with him" serves as a statement of understanding and shared feeling. It's a declaration of emotional connection, as supported by Ludwig and its example sentences. This is used to express a personal connection and understanding of someone else's emotional state.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I empathize with him" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to convey understanding and shared feelings towards another person. Ludwig confirms its validity. It's most frequently found in News & Media, indicating its neutrality and broad applicability. When using this phrase, ensure you genuinely understand the person's emotions to avoid confusing empathy with simple sympathy. Consider related phrases such as "I understand his feelings" or "I relate to what he's going through" for subtle differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I understand his feelings

Focuses on understanding the emotional state of the person.

I feel his pain

Emphasizes sharing in the suffering of the person.

I relate to what he's going through

Highlights a personal connection or shared experience.

I sympathize with him

Similar to empathize, but often implies more pity or sorrow.

I'm in his corner

Indicates support and advocacy for the person.

I have compassion for him

Highlights feelings of kindness and concern.

I feel for him

Expresses general sympathy and concern.

I'm with him on that

Indicates agreement and understanding of his viewpoint or situation.

I'm there for him

Focuses on providing support and assistance.

My heart goes out to him

Expresses deep sympathy and sorrow.

FAQs

What's the difference between "I sympathize with him" and "I empathize with him"?

While both phrases express concern for someone, "I sympathize with him" implies feeling pity or sorrow for someone's misfortune. "I empathize with him" means you understand and share their feelings or experiences.

When is it appropriate to say "I empathize with him"?

It's appropriate when you genuinely understand and share the feelings of the person you're referring to, often because you've had a similar experience or can deeply relate to their situation.

What can I say instead of "I empathize with him"?

You can use alternatives like "I understand his feelings", "I feel for him", or "I relate to what he's going through" depending on the context.

Is "I empathize with he" grammatically correct?

No, the correct pronoun to use after "with" is the object pronoun "him". The correct phrase is "I empathize with him".