attract sympathy

USAGE SUMMARY

"attract sympathy" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it when you want to describe a situation in which someone or something is trying to elicit sympathy from others. For example, "The young girl's story of her struggles to escape poverty was designed to attract sympathy from the jury."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

It will just attract sympathy for him".

The New York Times

The government accused the rebels of using the gas themselves to attract sympathy.

The Economist

By putting on a uniform and pretending to be a veteran, it will attract sympathy".

Independent

She in turn has accused the society of hiding the statue, to attract sympathy.

The New York Times

(A device to make infants and children scream and attract sympathy is to burn their mouths with chili powder.

The New Yorker

The beautiful woman depicted on this poster was intended to attract sympathy for the plight of war refugees in Greece, Armenia, and Syria.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Most illness attracts sympathy for the victim.

The Economist

"I wanted to change people's view of H.I.V.," said Mr. Harithi, whose story has attracted sympathy throughout the country.

The New York Times

He is practically attracting sympathy as a victim at this point; one suspects he can't possibly be as awful as people say.

The New Yorker

Mr Modrow, the Dresden party boss, has attracted sympathy partly because he was disliked by Mr Krenz's doddery predecessor, Mr Erich Honecker, partly because he has steadfastly refused the perks, including a big villa, that top communists usually demand.

The Economist

The 75-year-old king is increasingly unpopular, and polls suggest that far from attracting sympathy, his declining health has intensified calls for him to abdicate in favor of Crown Prince Felipe, his 45-year-old son.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "attract sympathy" when you want to describe a deliberate attempt to gain emotional support or understanding from others. For example, a public relations campaign might aim to "attract sympathy" for a company facing criticism.

Common error

Avoid using "attract sympathy" when it implies insincerity or manipulation. Instead of saying someone is trying to "attract sympathy", consider more neutral phrases like "gain understanding" or "elicit compassion" to avoid negative connotations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attract sympathy" functions as a verb phrase where "attract" is the verb and "sympathy" is the noun serving as the direct object. It describes the action of drawing or eliciting feelings of compassion or understanding. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "attract sympathy" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that describes the action of eliciting or drawing feelings of compassion and understanding. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for use in written English. The phrase appears frequently in news and media, academia, and science, with a neutral register that makes it suitable for various contexts. When using "attract sympathy", it's important to consider the potential connotations of manipulation or insincerity and to choose alternative phrases like "elicit compassion" or "gain understanding" when appropriate. It is confirmed by Ludwig with several usage examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elicit compassion

Focuses more on evoking a feeling of compassion rather than simply attracting sympathy.

garner compassion

Similar to "elicit compassion", emphasizing the gathering of compassionate feelings.

appeal to compassion

Directly refers to making an appeal based on compassionate feelings.

inspire compassion

Indicates the action of motivating compassionate feelings.

gain understanding

Emphasizes the acquisition of understanding, which can lead to sympathy.

provoke empathy

Highlights the action of stimulating empathetic feelings.

solicit empathy

Focuses on directly requesting or seeking empathetic understanding.

invite support

Highlights the action of encouraging support, which can stem from sympathy.

generate concern

Emphasizes creating a sense of worry or concern, which can be related to sympathy.

arouse pity

Focuses on generating a feeling of pity, which is a specific type of sympathy.

FAQs

How can I use "attract sympathy" in a sentence?

You can use "attract sympathy" to describe actions or situations designed to gain emotional support. For example, "The charity's campaign aimed to attract sympathy for homeless veterans".

What are some alternatives to saying "attract sympathy"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "elicit compassion", "gain understanding", or "invite support".

Is it always positive to "attract sympathy"?

Not necessarily. While seeking sympathy can be a genuine need, the phrase can also imply manipulation or insincerity. Consider the context carefully when using "attract sympathy".

How does "attract sympathy" differ from "provoke empathy"?

"Attract sympathy" suggests drawing feelings of pity or sorrow, while "provoke empathy" implies stimulating a deeper understanding and sharing of another's feelings.