build sympathy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "build sympathy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of creating or fostering feelings of compassion or understanding towards someone or something. Example: "The author skillfully builds sympathy for the protagonist through their struggles and challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Droughts build sympathy.

The New Yorker

This ability to build sympathy for Alexander is one of the biggest achievements of Fire from Heaven.

The Guardian - Books

This debut filmmaker doesn't do enough to build sympathy for JR, and when his story eventually loops back to the character's supposed chessboard genius, the connection feels tenuous at best.

The Guardian - Film

The ruling generals, many assert, are laying the groundwork for Mr. Mubarak to be transferred from a prison hospital to the relative comfort of a military hospital, or perhaps trying to build sympathy for the longtime autocrat to diminish opposition to his former prime minister, Mr. Shafik.

The New York Times

De Lacroix worried that although the storyline had the potential to be memorable, it could be another way to build sympathy for Todd.

Wikipedia

The pressure on the Danish actor's performance is made more challenging by the removal of any backstory or flashbacks that might build sympathy or understand for Joe through explaining why he's done wrong.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Images of dignified Civil Rights marchers being blasted with fire hoses built sympathy for them and reduced that for the defenders of segregation, while modern images of Black Block antics made it easy to diminish the sympathy Occupy originally drew.

Huffington Post

The film-makers do their work in the movie's first act to build our sympathy for Jim – yes, we'd be lonely, too.

The Guardian - Film

If you are going to build up sympathy and empathy for people with mental health, it makes it harder to cut budget for mental health services.

The Guardian

The filmmakers build up sympathy for Gandolfini throughout the movie, and then, in a spasm of ineptitude, they abruptly toss it away, allowing his character to die without so much as a farewell.

The New Yorker

On that Sunday, in events that were to generate an extensive archive of feature films, documentaries, investigative books, popular songs and poetry that helped build worldwide sympathy for Northern Ireland's Catholics, a crowd of about 10,000 gathered to protest the practice of detention without trial, used frequently by the British authorities to curb those suspected of paramilitary extremism.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to persuade or connect with an audience, strategically employ narratives and examples that "build sympathy" for your subject.

Common error

Avoid manipulating emotions excessively. While "building sympathy" is effective, relying solely on it can undermine credibility and appear insincere.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "build sympathy" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, indicating the act of creating or increasing feelings of compassion and understanding towards someone or something. Ludwig's AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and provides examples of its usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Academic

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "build sympathy" is a grammatically sound and semantically valid expression used to describe the process of fostering feelings of compassion and understanding. While Ludwig identifies its usage as relatively rare, the phrase appears across varied sources, including news outlets and wikis, indicating its general acceptability. Although often appearing in neutral contexts, caution should be applied not to overuse emotional appeals to prevent undermining credibility and sincerity. Alternatives such as "foster compassion" or "cultivate empathy" may offer nuanced variations to express similar sentiments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

foster compassion

Focuses on actively promoting compassionate feelings.

cultivate empathy

Emphasizes developing an understanding of another's feelings.

generate understanding

Highlights the creation of comprehension and acceptance.

create compassion

Stresses the act of producing feelings of pity and concern.

encourage empathy

Focuses on inspiring empathetic feelings in others.

foster goodwill

Emphasizes the promotion of friendly or kindly feelings.

develop rapport

Concentrates on establishing a harmonious relationship.

gain favor

Highlights the act of acquiring approval or support.

win support

Focuses on obtaining backing or endorsement.

garner support

Emphasizes the gathering or collecting of support.

FAQs

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

You might say, "The documentary aimed to "build sympathy" for the refugees by showing their personal stories".

What's a good alternative to "build sympathy"?

Consider using phrases like "foster compassion", "cultivate empathy", or "generate understanding" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to try to "build sympathy"?

While building sympathy can be effective, it's crucial to use it ethically and authentically. Avoid manipulative tactics or exaggerations that could undermine your message's credibility.

How does "build sympathy" differ from "gain support"?

"Build sympathy" focuses on creating an emotional connection and understanding, while "gain support" emphasizes obtaining active backing or approval for a cause or idea.