feign sympathy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feign sympathy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing someone who pretends to feel compassion or concern for someone else's situation, often insincerely. Example: "She decided to feign sympathy for her colleague's misfortune, even though she secretly felt pleased about it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

If you simply can't squeeze yourself into your neighbors' shoes, feign sympathy and claim another engagement.

The New York Times

Until measures are introduced to give supporters a proper say in clubs, to prevent them being traded for profit by disinterested outsiders who feign sympathy and mouth platitudes but who know and care nothing of their traditions and importance to our national life, Liverpool FC and all other English clubs will be at risk and there will be little for anyone to celebrate.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Over the following months, Karrar carefully gained Lara's trust, feigning sympathy when she told him about her troubled childhood.

Independent

Mr. Costas had very little notice but politely managed to keep Mr. Sandusky answering harrowing questions without in any way feigning sympathy.

The New York Times - Arts

When his brother, Clarence, is led off to prison in chains to be killed, Richard feigns sympathy, then chants his goodbye as a cheerful dirge.

The New York Times

DNAinfo reports at the height of the movement in 2011, Wojciech Braszczok infiltrated Zucotti Park and feigned sympathy for the protesters' cause to glean information that'd he'd then report to the NYPD's Organized Crime Intelligence Division.

Huffington Post

Some of this is expected from the women of this show, feigning sympathy as they actually belittle their very ill friend for not making the effort to put on a full face of drag before dragging herself out of bed to make a requested appearance at a group dinner (no doubt a contractual obligation to the Bravo show).

Huffington Post

Be as sincere as possible without seeming overly affected; you're feigning sympathy, not empathy.

WikiHow

The staff were concerned I was feigning illness for sympathy, and making my baby ill for attention.

The Guardian - Opinion

During cross-examination, the chief prosecutor, Michael Dearington, suggested that the suicide attempts had been feigned to win sympathy from the jury that Mr. Hayes knew would eventually consider whether to impose a death sentence for the crimes that ended in the deaths of Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, and her daughters, Michaela, 11, and Hayley, 17.

The New York Times

I have indeed, and feigned a lot of sympathy and approval from it, and I enjoyed that.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "feign sympathy", ensure that the context clearly indicates the insincerity or pretense involved. This avoids any ambiguity about the character's true feelings.

Common error

Avoid using "feign sympathy" when the intention is to describe genuine empathy or understanding. The phrase specifically implies a lack of sincere emotion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feign sympathy" functions as a verb phrase acting as a descriptor, indicating the act of pretending to feel sympathy. Ludwig AI confirms that it's usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

17%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "feign sympathy" is used to describe the act of pretending to feel compassion or concern. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. Grammatically sound, it appears most frequently in News & Media contexts. When using "feign sympathy", it's important to ensure the context highlights the insincerity being conveyed. Related phrases include "fake compassion" and "pretend to care", while avoiding using the phrase when genuine empathy is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feign concern

Directly substitutes "sympathy" with "concern", keeping the structure the same.

fake compassion

Focuses on the outward display of compassion without genuine feeling.

pretend to care

Highlights the act of pretending, emphasizing the lack of real concern.

affect compassion

Highlights the attempt to artificially produce a feeling of compassion.

simulate empathy

Implies a calculated effort to mimic empathetic feelings.

display insincere condolences

Focuses on offering condolences without genuine remorse.

put on a show of concern

Emphasizes the artificial and performative nature of the expression.

play the part of being sympathetic

Highlights the performative aspect of acting in a sympathetic manner.

give a false impression of caring

Highlights the deceptive aspect of presenting a false image.

profess artificial sorrow

Emphasizes the insincere declaration of sadness.

FAQs

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

You can use "feign sympathy" to describe someone who pretends to feel compassion or concern, often insincerely. For example: "She decided to "feign sympathy" for her colleague's misfortune, even though she secretly felt pleased about it."

What are some alternatives to "feign sympathy"?

Alternatives to "feign sympathy" include "fake compassion", "pretend to care", or "simulate empathy", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "feign sympathy" formal or informal?

"Feign sympathy" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it's more commonly found in written or spoken language where a degree of sophistication or critical observation is present.

What's the difference between "feign sympathy" and "show sympathy"?

"Feign sympathy" implies insincerity; the person is pretending to feel sympathetic. "Show sympathy" indicates a genuine expression of compassion or understanding.