empathetic

USAGE SUMMARY

'empathetic' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is able to understand and share someone else's feelings or experiences. For example, "Alice was so empathetic when I told her about my difficult situation; she truly understood how I was feeling."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Meanwhile, it's right that people should shed an empathetic tear for those miners, and miners everywhere, in all of human history, taking this opportunity to thank each of them, from the bottom of our hearts, for the remarkable work that they do every day.

The Guardian - Opinion

(Chris Twine, director of student services, University of Birmingham) "Try to be empathetic and approachable, and remember that a student's front stage performance may not reflect what they are really feeling.

The Guardian

All those she met immediately warmed to her empathetic nature and her genuine concern for their wellbeing.

The Guardian

In fact, from my own experience, far from women refusing to recruit attractive younger women on the off chance they might then find themselves a boyfriend and go off into the sunset making babies, women tend to be a bit more empathetic and a bit more understanding when it comes to issues like other people's family commitments and caring responsibilities.

The Guardian - Opinion

You can't see them making a musical out of it, admittedly, but it's by no means a "difficult" movie, carried along by tension and heart-rendingly empathetic performances.

The Guardian - Film

I'm empathetic with anything that's clumsy or inarticulate".

The Guardian - Books

The events that unfolded said a lot about what it means to be empathetic, to overcome dissent and face common enemies: Thatcher, the tabloids, the police.

The Guardian - Film

Even the briefest of human communication had a disproportionately powerful and positive effect if it was based on an empathetic approach.

The Guardian

They need to know that those mediating get this feeling, not at a rational but at an empathetic level.

The Guardian - Opinion

Through a variety of interventions, such as individual and group counselling, psycho-educational workshops, and interactive self-help resources, university counselling services can help students in a professional, empathetic and non-judgmental way gain insight and awareness into their difficulties.

The Guardian

Star Wards charity enthusiastically uses patient insights to improve the practice and quality of inpatient mental healthcare and create a more empathetic and therapeutic space on hospital wards.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone as "empathetic", provide specific examples of their behavior or actions that demonstrate their ability to understand and share the feelings of others. This adds credibility and depth to your description.

Common error

Avoid using "empathetic" interchangeably with "sympathetic". While both involve understanding others' emotions, empathy involves sharing those feelings, while sympathy involves feeling sorry for someone's situation without necessarily sharing their emotions.

Linguistic Context

The word "empathetic" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe someone or something characterized by empathy. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in describing qualities related to understanding and sharing the feelings of others.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "empathetic" is a versatile adjective that describes the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically sound and widely accepted. While closely related to terms like "sympathetic" and "compassionate", "empathetic" emphasizes a deeper, shared emotional experience. Its frequency in news, scientific, and business contexts highlights its relevance across diverse fields. Remember to use "empathetic" to accurately describe someone's capacity for understanding and sharing emotions, and avoid confusing it with related terms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feeling another's pain

Directly conveys the shared emotional experience, closely mirroring the core meaning of "empathetic" with an explicit emphasis on suffering.

understanding and caring

Combines cognitive and emotional aspects, approaching the holistic sense of "empathetic" by integrating comprehension with concern.

sympathetic

Emphasizes feeling sorrow or pity for someone's misfortune, where "empathetic" involves a deeper shared emotional experience.

showing compassion

Emphasizes the outward display of sympathetic concern, making it about the action taken based on feeling, rather than the feeling itself like in "empathetic".

compassionate

Highlights the sympathetic concern and desire to alleviate suffering, adding a dimension of active kindness absent in "empathetic".

sensitive

Indicates a heightened awareness of and responsiveness to external stimuli and emotions, overlapping with but not fully capturing the shared feeling aspect of "empathetic".

understanding

Focuses on the cognitive aspect of grasping another's situation or feelings, differing from "empathetic"'s emotional resonance.

caring

Focuses on affection and concern for others' well-being, differing from "empathetic"'s emphasis on shared understanding and feeling.

considerate

Implies thoughtfulness and awareness of others' needs and feelings, but lacks the emotional depth of "empathetic".

having insight

Stresses perceptive understanding, where "empathetic" stresses emotional understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "empathetic" in a sentence?

You can use "empathetic" to describe a person or action that shows an understanding and sharing of another's feelings. For example, "She was an empathetic listener, always ready to offer support".

What's the difference between "empathetic" and "sympathetic"?

"Empathetic" implies understanding and sharing the feelings of another, while "sympathetic" means feeling pity or sorrow for someone else's misfortune. Empathy involves a deeper connection.

What are some words similar to "empathetic"?

Similar words include "compassionate", "understanding", "sensitive", and "caring". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say someone is "empathetic to" a situation?

While not incorrect, it's more common to say someone is "empathetic toward", "empathetic with", or simply "empathetic" in a given situation. The preposition can add a slightly different nuance, but all are acceptable.