commiserate with

USAGE SUMMARY

"commiserate with" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to show sympathy or understanding for someone's suffering or misfortune. For example, "I commiserate with you for the loss of your pet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Instead, commiserate with her.

The New York Times

The women commiserate with one another.

The New York Times

SHOULD colleagues congratulate or commiserate with Pius Langa?

The Economist

To commiserate with his customers, Mr. Pollack created a B.Q.E.

The New York Times

Yet he took up his pen to commiserate with her.

The New York Times

Mr. Virani then trudged upstairs to commiserate with other shopkeepers.

The New York Times

There are no teammates to blame or commiserate with.

The New York Times

People came to charge phones, locate a plumber, find a lawyer and commiserate with neighbors.

The New York Times - Arts

At some point my wife signed up to Mumsnet to commiserate with my detractors.

The Guardian - Tech

The Federals can commiserate with the expansion Danville Dashers, at least.

The New York Times - Sports

Yet he took up his pen to commiserate with the greatest love of his life.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "commiserate with", ensure the context involves shared negative experiences or feelings. It's most effective when you genuinely understand and acknowledge the other person's situation.

Common error

Avoid using "commiserate with" if you don't genuinely understand or share the feelings being expressed. Offering empty platitudes can undermine the intent to connect and provide support.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "commiserate with" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating an action of sharing in sorrow or misfortune. It is frequently used to describe the act of expressing sympathy or understanding towards someone experiencing difficulties. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples where this phrase is used in contexts of shared negative experiences, reflecting its core function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

After a thorough analysis, Ludwig AI confirms that "commiserate with" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for expressing shared sorrow or sympathy. Appearing most often in news and media, it carries a neutral to formal tone. While alternatives like "sympathize with" or "express sympathy for" exist, "commiserate with" emphasizes the shared experience of negative feelings. Remember to use this phrase when you genuinely understand and wish to acknowledge someone's hardship. As Ludwig AI pointed out, the phrase is correct and safe to use, provided the context is appropriate. Therefore, use "commiserate with" confidently to show your understanding and support in difficult times.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sympathize with

This phrase is very close in meaning, but "sympathize" focuses more on understanding the feelings of another.

express sympathy for

This alternative is more general, simply indicating the expression of sympathy without necessarily sharing the feeling.

feel for

A more informal way to express sympathy, suggesting an understanding of someone's difficult situation.

share sorrow with

This suggests a deeper, more profound connection and sharing of grief.

show compassion for

This emphasizes the feeling of compassion rather than the act of sharing the sorrow.

offer condolences to

This is a more formal way to express sympathy, typically used in situations of loss or bereavement.

console

Similar to "comfort", but often used when someone is grieving or deeply upset.

comfort

This verb is more direct and implies actively trying to alleviate someone's distress.

lament with

This suggests a more active and expressive sharing of grief or sorrow.

pity

While it conveys sympathy, it can also imply a sense of superiority or condescension and is not always appropriate.

FAQs

How do you use "commiserate with" in a sentence?

You can use "commiserate with" to describe sharing feelings of sorrow or misfortune with someone, such as "I "commiserate with" you on the loss of your job" or "We gathered to "commiserate with" the victims of the flood".

What does it mean to "commiserate with" someone?

To "commiserate with" someone means to express or feel sympathy or sorrow for someone else's suffering or hardship. It implies a shared understanding of their negative experience.

Which is more appropriate: "sympathize with" or "commiserate with"?

"Sympathize with" is more general and means to understand and share the feelings of another, while ""commiserate with"" specifically means to share feelings of sorrow or misfortune. "Commiserate with" is more specific to negative experiences.

Can you "commiserate with" someone over a positive event?

No, ""commiserate with"" is specifically used for negative situations, hardships, or losses. For positive events, you would "celebrate with" or "congratulate" someone instead.