become sympathetic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "become sympathetic" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a change in attitude or feelings towards someone or something, indicating that one is starting to feel compassion or understanding. Example: "After hearing her story, I began to become sympathetic to her struggles and challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

"People get galvanized and become sympathetic to the militants".

The New York Times

Characters who initially seem likable commit reprehensible acts, and apparent villains become sympathetic over time.

The New Yorker

By the late 1950s Pramoedya had become sympathetic toward the Indonesian Communist Party, and after 1958 he abandoned fiction for essays and cultural criticism that reflect a left-wing viewpoint.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He said he still supported the concept of giving institutional investors more of a voice, particularly at troubled companies, but that he had also become sympathetic to some of the views of the plan's critics.

The New York Times

His incongruous quotations from Open University philosophy modules, his pronouncements on the "village" habits of his fellow Bangladeshis, his sociological explanations of British culture: these all become sympathetic without ceasing to be absurd.

The Guardian - Books

Images of the shootings, including a photograph of a 14-year-old runaway kneeling over the body of one of the victims and screaming, were published across the country, horrifying Americans and driving them to become sympathetic to the antiwar movement — or to join it.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"But the crackdown was so heavy-handed that even the Chinese became sympathetic to our cause".

The New Yorker

Still, some legislators became sympathetic to what Ms. Stessin-Cohn called her "broken people".

The New York Times

She wants a harbor, etc. Miss McBane becomes sympathetic and tells her how lovely her hotel is.

The New Yorker

As the investigation deepens, though, Conde becomes sympathetic to Marqués, who, despite suffering repression, "took it like a man and stayed here on the island".

The New Yorker

As Mr. Garber sang "September Song" with a wistful, vulnerable tenderness that echoed Huston's original interpretation, the villain became sympathetic.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "become sympathetic" to describe a gradual change in feeling, rather than a sudden shift. It's more appropriate when someone's initial reaction is neutral or negative.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "become sympathetic" might sound too informal in academic or professional writing. Consider alternatives like "develop empathy" or "cultivate understanding" for a more appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become sympathetic" functions as a verb phrase indicating a process of developing feelings of compassion or understanding toward someone or something. It describes a change in emotional state. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Encyclopedias

13%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "become sympathetic" is a grammatically sound and usable verb phrase that describes the process of developing compassion or understanding. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While not overly formal, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media, to convey a shift in emotional perspective. Alternatives like "develop empathy" may be more appropriate in formal settings. The phrase is relatively common, and is used to describe a transformation in one's feelings towards a person, cause, or situation. Remembering to consider the subtle differences between this expression and alternatives such as "feel sympathy" is very important.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become understanding

Focuses on achieving a state of understanding.

develop empathy

Focuses on developing an understanding of another's feelings.

grow compassionate

Emphasizes the development of compassion.

begin to empathize

Highlights the initial stages of empathizing with someone.

turn compassionate

Focuses on the transformation to compassion.

start to understand

Highlights the beginning of comprehension.

begin to feel for

Implies the start of emotional connection.

find oneself feeling for

Emphasizes the involuntary nature of developing feelings.

develop a soft spot

Suggests a growing fondness or affection.

awaken to compassion

Implies a sudden realization of compassion.

FAQs

How can I use "become sympathetic" in a sentence?

You can use "become sympathetic" to describe a change in attitude or feelings towards someone or something, indicating that one is starting to feel compassion or understanding. Example: "After hearing her story, I began to "become sympathetic" to her struggles and challenges."

What are some alternatives to "become sympathetic"?

You can use alternatives like "develop empathy", "grow compassionate", or "start to understand" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "became sympathetic" instead of "become sympathetic"?

Yes, "became sympathetic" is the past tense form of the phrase and is grammatically correct. The choice between "become" and "became" depends on the tense of the sentence.

What's the difference between "become sympathetic" and "feel sympathy"?

"Become sympathetic" implies a process or change in feeling, while "feel sympathy" suggests a current state of feeling compassion or understanding.