garner empathy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "garner empathy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of gaining or eliciting understanding and compassion from others. Example: "The speaker's heartfelt story was able to garner empathy from the audience, making them more receptive to the message."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Saying "my heart hurts because I love someone black" or "I'm afraid and feel unsafe because I'm Jewish" are honest and more likely to garner empathy than leading with some version of "you're a terrible person".

Huffington Post

Once they have made the mind shift to move from "victim"/source in someone else's narrative to become the powerful narrator of their own story, they are able to garner empathy for themselves.

Huffington Post

High profile acquisitions of Manchester City by a senior member of the UAE ruling family and of PSG by Qatar fits into the two countries' soft power strategy that aims to project them favourably on the international stage; garner empathy among the club's huge global fan bases; and distract attention from the fact that both states are autocracies with poor human rights records.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

At the same time, Mrs. Bachmann's team believes she garners empathy and support when she defends herself — as when she responded to Chris Wallace's question on national television in June asking if she was a "flake".

The New York Times

Sadly, in its effort to garner us empathy, our grudge ends up depriving us of the very empathy that we need to release it.

Huffington Post

So my advice in 10 points would be: Identify who you want to talk to and learn everything you can about them and what they care about Think about what might garner some empathy from them enough to spend 30 minutes with you Have an idea, a point of view, a perspective that will potentially excite, challenge and delight them Be relevant in your supporting materials.

The Guardian

"For the artists we choose to work with, it's really important that we give them the opportunity to immerse themselves in the space and garner more empathy for the culture that surrounds gaming.

Forbes

However, the segment that is most likely to benefit from Juul is also a group that has been stigmatized over the last few decades and ultimately garner little empathy from the rest of society, despite suffering from an addiction to the leading cause of preventable death across the globe.

TechCrunch

It does not garner the empathy that sadness or apathy does.

HuffPost

Whether A Fantastic Woman will win on Sunday or not, the film shows the difficulties that are a reality for trans people in Chile, and its international recognition has given activists in the country some much-needed support, helping to garner public empathy and understanding for trans issues and rights.

Vice

Whether A Fantastic Woman will win on Sunday or not, the film shows the difficulties which are a reality for trans people in Chile, and its international recognition has given activists in the country some much-needed support, helping to garner public empathy and understanding for trans issues and rights.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to "garner empathy", consider sharing personal anecdotes or stories that highlight relatable human experiences.

Common error

Avoid using "garner empathy" passively. Ensure the subject is actively doing something to evoke the empathetic response, rather than merely hoping to receive it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "garner empathy" functions as a verb phrase where "garner" is a transitive verb meaning 'to gather or collect' and "empathy" is a noun representing the object being gathered. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "garner empathy" describes the act of obtaining or eliciting empathy. Ludwig confirms its usability. While grammatically correct, it is relatively rare, appearing primarily in news and media contexts. To use it effectively, focus on actions that actively promote understanding and connection. Alternatives like "elicit empathy" or "cultivate empathy" offer similar meanings with slight nuances. Remember that empathy goes beyond sympathy, requiring a deeper connection and understanding of another's feelings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elicit empathy

Replaces "garner" with "elicit", focusing on drawing out empathy from others.

cultivate empathy

Suggests a more intentional and gradual process of developing empathy.

foster empathy

Similar to cultivate, emphasizing the nurturing and encouragement of empathy.

generate empathy

Highlights the creation or production of empathy.

win empathy

Implies gaining empathy through effort or achievement.

gain empathy

A direct synonym, focusing on the acquisition of empathy.

obtain empathy

Similar to "gain empathy" but suggests a more formal or deliberate acquisition.

secure empathy

Implies making empathy certain or guaranteed.

draw empathy

Focuses on attracting or pulling empathy from others.

inspire empathy

Suggests the phrase is used to ignite feelings of empathy.

FAQs

What does "garner empathy" mean?

The phrase "garner empathy" means to gain or gather understanding and compassion from others. It suggests an effort to evoke empathetic feelings in an audience or individual.

How can I "garner empathy" effectively?

To effectively "garner empathy", focus on clear, honest communication that highlights shared human experiences or vulnerabilities. Personal stories and relatable situations often help evoke empathetic responses.

What are some alternatives to "garner empathy"?

You can use alternatives like "elicit empathy", "foster empathy", or "cultivate empathy" to express a similar meaning.

Is "garner sympathy" the same as "garner empathy"?

While related, "garner sympathy" and "garner empathy" are not identical. Sympathy involves feeling pity or sorrow for someone's misfortune, while empathy involves understanding and sharing the feelings of another. Empathy is deeper and more connected than simple sympathy.