empathy towards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "empathy towards" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone having sympathy, understanding, and compassion for another person. For example: "He showed great empathy towards his friend who was going through a difficult time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Many people display a relational empathy towards Machli.

Geoforum

Tom, 27, Manchester I am concerned with the lack of empathy towards the teaching profession.

The Guardian

The best way to teach your children empathy is for you to model empathy towards them.

University of California, Berkeley

This, I now see, was early evidence of my peculiar empathy towards individuals who are much stupider than me.

The Guardian - Books

In such a situation, human empathy towards each other led to sincere friendship between Chinese people and Jewish refugees.

Columbia University

Specifically, the authors studied how people's beliefs about whether happiness is flexible, controllable, and internal influence their empathy towards others.

University of California, Berkeley

I have found myself questioning why I am sometimes unable to extend the same empathy towards modern-day criminals that I do to characters such as Jack Sheppard.

The Guardian

The diaries underline Rosenberg's consistently ideological approach to every question, and bring out his monstrous lack of empathy towards human suffering, including that of the Germans.

The Guardian - Books

My mental health has been helped almost exclusively by strong friendships and professional relationships with women and their empathy towards me.

The Guardian - Opinion

Some don't show any empathy towards their victims, but others fully understand and are deeply affected by what they have done.

The Guardian

It afforded me empathy towards the system, the result of explicitly opening myself up to it and building it into myself.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about emotional responses, use "empathy towards" to highlight a capacity to understand and share the feelings of another, fostering deeper connections and understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "sympathy for" when you intend to convey "empathy towards". "Sympathy" implies feeling sorry for someone, while "empathy" means understanding and sharing their feelings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "empathy towards" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a feeling of understanding and sharing the emotions of another. Ludwig examples show its use in describing relational dynamics, teaching practices, and reactions to suffering.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "empathy towards" is a prepositional phrase used to describe the act of understanding and sharing the feelings of others. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It appears frequently in news, scientific, and academic contexts, indicating its wide acceptance. While phrases like "sympathy for" or "compassion towards" are related, it's important to choose "empathy" when you specifically want to convey a deep understanding and connection with someone's emotions. When writing, use "empathy towards" to foster deeper connections and understanding in discussions about mental health, social issues, or interpersonal relationships.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compassion towards

Replaces "empathy" with "compassion", emphasizing a feeling of concern and care for someone's suffering.

sympathy for

Uses "sympathy" instead of "empathy" and the preposition "for" instead of "towards", highlighting a shared feeling of sorrow or pity.

understanding of

Focuses on the cognitive aspect of grasping someone's situation or feelings, rather than the emotional connection.

sensitivity to

Emphasizes awareness and consideration of someone's feelings or needs, suggesting a careful and thoughtful approach.

concern for

Highlights a feeling of worry or care about someone's well-being, indicating a protective or supportive stance.

kindness to

Replaces empathy with a more general expression of goodwill and generosity.

consideration for

Focuses on thoughtfulness and regard for someone's circumstances or feelings.

pity for

Expresses sorrow or compassion for someone's misfortune or suffering, potentially implying a sense of superiority.

commiseration with

Shares in someone's sorrow or disappointment, indicating a mutual feeling of sadness or regret.

rapport with

Highlights a harmonious relationship or connection with someone, emphasizing mutual understanding and trust.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "empathy towards" in a sentence?

Use "empathy towards" to show understanding and sharing of another's feelings. For example, "The therapist showed great "empathy towards" her patients during the difficult session".

What phrases are similar in meaning to "empathy towards"?

Alternatives include "compassion towards", "understanding of", or "sensitivity to", depending on the specific context you wish to convey.

Is there a difference between "empathy towards" and "sympathy for"?

"Empathy towards" indicates understanding and sharing the feelings of another, whereas "sympathy for" implies feeling sorry for someone. Empathy involves a deeper connection than sympathy.

In what contexts is it most appropriate to use "empathy towards"?

It is suitable in contexts where you want to highlight a deep understanding and sharing of feelings, such as in discussions about mental health, social issues, or interpersonal relationships.