I sympathise with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I sympathise with" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express understanding and agreement with someone's feelings, experiences, or beliefs. For example: "I sympathise with your difficult situation. Is there anything I can do to help?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I sympathise with her.

The Guardian

So I sympathise with him.

The Guardian - Tech

I sympathise with Brand's dilemma.

The Guardian

I sympathise with them, too.

The Guardian

I sympathise with independence from Facebook.

The Guardian - Tech

"I sympathise with that," he said.

The Guardian - Books

I sympathise with Charles and Camilla.

The Guardian

Finally, I sympathise with Vaz's wife and children.

The Guardian - Opinion

I sympathise with him, yes, a little bit".

The Guardian - Film

But I sympathise with children who have it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I sympathise with this position, but it seems unfeasible.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Follow up with a supportive action or offer of help after stating "I sympathise with", to reinforce your sincerity.

Common error

Avoid using "I sympathise with" when you actually disagree with someone's actions or viewpoint. Sympathy implies understanding and shared feeling, not necessarily agreement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I sympathise with" functions as an expression of empathy or compassion towards someone or something. It's used to convey understanding and a shared feeling in response to a situation, as evidenced by numerous examples in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I sympathise with" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to convey empathy and understanding, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in News & Media sources, it serves to offer comfort and support in various situations. While "I sympathise with" indicates shared feeling, it doesn't necessarily imply complete agreement. Remembering this distinction and ensuring sincerity in its use are crucial for effective communication. Alternatives such as "I empathize with" or "I understand" can be used to adjust the level of emotional connection or formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I empathize with

Replaces "sympathise" with "empathize", indicating a deeper emotional understanding.

I understand

Offers a more general agreement or acknowledgement of someone's situation.

My heart goes out to

Shows deep sympathy and concern for someone's suffering.

I feel for you

Expresses sorrow or compassion for someone's misfortune.

I commiserate with

Conveys a shared feeling of sorrow or disappointment.

I share your feelings

Indicates a shared emotional experience or perspective.

I am understanding of

Highlights one's capacity to understand someone else's point of view.

I am sorry to hear that

Expresses regret or sadness upon learning about someone's troubles.

I am with you on that

Indicates agreement and support for a particular point or issue.

I appreciate your position

Acknowledges the validity and complexity of someone's stance.

FAQs

How do you use "I sympathise with" in a sentence?

You can use "I sympathise with" to express your understanding and compassion towards someone's situation. For example, "I sympathise with your loss" or "I sympathise with the challenges you're facing".

What's the difference between "I sympathise with" and "I empathise with"?

While both express understanding, "I sympathise with" implies feeling sorry for someone, while "I empathise with" suggests a deeper understanding by sharing the other person's feelings. "I empathize with" suggests experiencing similar feelings.

What can I say instead of "I sympathise with"?

You can use alternatives like "I understand", "I feel for you", or "I am sorry to hear that", depending on the context and the level of emotion you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "I sympathise for" instead of "I sympathise with"?

No, the correct usage is "I sympathise with". Using "for" is grammatically incorrect in this context. Saying "I empathize with" is close to I sympathize with but not the same.