empathy

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'empathy' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the ability to understand, relate to, and share the feelings of another person. For example: "When faced with her friend's emotional distress, she showed great empathy and offered comfort."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They may lack empathy and compassion, but that doesn't mean they are all that different from the rest of us in other respects – and that we can't learn from them, both in terms of what they're doing right, and what they're getting wrong.

The Guardian - Money

And as some of the negative reactions showed, pictures of suffering can trigger not simply empathy and a desire to help, but also anger at the way that the people at the frontline of famine and conflict are represented.

The Guardian

"Monkeys certainly have emotions and probably the ability to display empathy," Heinrich says.

The Guardian

Still, Johnson advocates more empathy than political brutality: "I believe that when talented people have something to offer a society and a community they should be given the benefit of the doubt".

The Guardian - Opinion

In a range of studies by organisations including IBM, Gerzema, Young & Rubicam, and Zenger and Folkman, senior executives around the world and across industries put qualities such as creativity, flexibility, empathy, patience, humility and balance right at the top of the list of crucial leadership characteristics for the future.

The Guardian

I have always tried to maintain an empathy with the healthcare professionals on the frontline and to never lose sight of the fact that the NHS exists, not to make a financial return, but to improve the health of the patients.

The Guardian

It's concerning to me that we have an ideologically driven prime minister who has no empathy for the wonder of the natural world, from our reefs to our rainforests.

The Guardian

It was empathy that turned him into a politician when, in his gap year, he was manager of Mtabila refugee camp, overseeing 120,000 Burundi refugees.

The Guardian

"Politicians running for office in the upcoming March elections should not only demonstrate their empathy but finally take some responsibility for this tragedy," she said.

The Guardian

"Not a lot of footballers have been under that type of pressure, and come out of it at the other end still a bloody effing human being, still having empathy and still wanting to help people.

The Guardian - Sport

Despite the steady drip-drip of death, the Mediterranean story has yet to resonate with a European public short on empathy: Guardian stories on migration on our website consistently attract very low numbers of readers.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In leadership contexts, emphasize "empathy" as a crucial skill for building trust and fostering collaboration within teams. Leaders who demonstrate "empathy" are more likely to create positive work environments.

Common error

Avoid using "sympathy" when you mean "empathy". "Sympathy" involves feeling sorry for someone, while "empathy" requires understanding and sharing their feelings. Using "sympathy" when "empathy" is appropriate can create distance rather than connection.

Linguistic Context

"Empathy" primarily functions as a noun, referring to the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes the ability to relate to and share the feelings of others. Many examples refer to professions that value "empathy", such as healthcare.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

21%

Science

15%

Less common in

Opinion

14%

Sport

7%

Lifestyle

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "empathy" is a commonly used noun referring to the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and crucial for effective communication and building relationships. It's frequently found in News & Media and Business contexts, and, to a lesser extent, in opinion and lifestyle content. To use "empathy" effectively, remember its distinction from "sympathy" and leverage it to convey genuine understanding and connection. The related phrases offer ways to express the concept from slightly different perspectives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compassionate understanding

Emphasizes the combination of compassion and comprehension of another's feelings.

walking in someone else's shoes

Idiomatic expression that vividly represents the act of understanding another person's experiences and feelings.

emotional understanding

Focuses specifically on the cognitive aspect of understanding emotions, rather than necessarily sharing them.

vicarious feeling

Highlights the experience of feeling what another person feels, as if it were one's own.

sensitivity to feelings

Highlights the awareness and responsiveness to others' emotional states.

connecting emotionally

Highlights the bond and mutual understanding formed through shared emotions.

emotional attunement

Suggests a state of being synchronized with another's emotions.

shared emotional experience

Focuses on the mutual experience of an emotion, rather than just understanding it.

understanding another's perspective

Focuses on the cognitive aspect of grasping someone else's viewpoint, which is a component of empathy.

showing compassion

Focuses on the outward display of empathy through acts of kindness and support.

FAQs

How is "empathy" used in a sentence?

"Empathy" is often used to describe the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. For example, "Her "empathy" allowed her to connect with patients on a deeper level."

What are some words similar to "empathy"?

Alternatives to "empathy" include "compassion", "understanding", and "sensitivity". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "empathy" and "sympathy"?

"Empathy" involves understanding and sharing another person's feelings, while "sympathy" involves feeling sorry for them. "Empathy" requires a deeper level of emotional connection.

How does "empathy" contribute to effective communication?

"Empathy" enables individuals to understand others' perspectives, fostering better "rapport" and more meaningful interactions. It allows communicators to tailor their message for maximum impact.