provoke sympathy

USAGE SUMMARY

"provoke sympathy" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to describe something or someone that elicits sympathy from others. For example, "The heartbreaking story of his years of homelessness provoked sympathy in everyone who heard it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Enjoyment and beauty provoke sympathy.

The New York Times - Books

Pressing the criminal case against Ms Yingluck, Thailand's first female prime minister, may yet provoke sympathy for her, at home and abroad.

The Economist

Her appraisal of the causes of homosexuality has been "drowned out" by scientists "obsessed" with the question and gay people who use the notion of a gay gene to provoke "sympathy".

Independent

The rights, wrongs and horrors of the war in Biafra have been largely forgotten outside Nigeria, but the picture has never lost – may never lose – its ability to provoke sympathy, distress and charity.

The Guardian - Opinion

There will, I suggest, be people who argue that torture is such a black-and-white issue that to provoke sympathy for those engaged in it is in itself a reprehensible act.

The Guardian - Film

For others, it will provoke sympathy rather than scorn".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Illness usually provokes sympathy.

The Economist

Clinton's debate performance was not viewed as strident; rather, it provoked sympathy, especially from female voters, who seemed to find Clinton's response to a question about whether she was likable ("That hurts my feelings") more appealing than Obama's chilly contribution ("You're likable enough").

The New Yorker

While hardly provoking sympathy, their characters' seemingly unapologetic lack of internal moral conflict makes for an interesting contrast with Yekel and Sarah.

Huffington Post

However, whereas criminal abortion was considered 'unspeakable' in the courtroom, in fictionalized accounts it assumes a critical place: provoking sympathy for the accused, providing evidence of their wrongful conviction and punishment and eliciting commentary on sexuality, class, and gender in modern society.

Historical Journal

Tube drivers may not provoke your sympathy.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "provoke sympathy" when you want to express that someone or something is causing others to feel compassion, understanding, or sorrow.

Common error

Avoid using "provoke sympathy" when you mean to say someone is trying to force or manipulate others into feeling sorry for them. "Provoke" implies a natural eliciting of feelings, whereas demanding sympathy suggests manipulation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provoke sympathy" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, indicating the action of causing or eliciting feelings of compassion or understanding in others. This aligns with Ludwig's examples, which illustrate how various events or situations can lead to this emotional response.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

23%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "provoke sympathy" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's employed to describe the act of causing someone to feel compassion or understanding. While the phrase sees relatively uncommon usage, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. When using the phrase, ensure that it accurately conveys the natural eliciting of feelings rather than implying manipulation. Alternatives such as "elicit sympathy" or "arouse compassion" can offer nuanced variations in meaning. Ludwig examples showcase its usage across diverse domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elicit sympathy

This alternative directly replaces "provoke" with "elicit", focusing on drawing out sympathy that is already present.

arouse compassion

This shifts the focus from sympathy to the closely related emotion of compassion, implying a deeper level of feeling.

stir compassion

Replaces "provoke" with "stir", indicating a subtle arousal of compassion.

generate compassion

This highlights the creation of compassionate feelings, emphasizing the active role of the subject.

foster compassion

Focuses on the idea of cultivating or encouraging compassion over time.

invoke empathy

Shifts from sympathy to empathy, highlighting the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

inspire pity

This focuses on inspiring feelings of pity, which may be a less desirable or nuanced form of sympathy.

create empathy

This stresses the active generation of empathic feelings in others.

gain sympathy

This changes the focus to the subject receiving sympathy, rather than the cause.

evoke understanding

This emphasizes the creation of understanding alongside, or instead of, sympathy.

FAQs

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

You can use "provoke sympathy" to describe situations or actions that cause others to feel compassionate. For example, "The charity's campaign used images of starving children to "provoke sympathy" and encourage donations."

What's the difference between "provoke sympathy" and "elicit sympathy"?

"Provoke sympathy" emphasizes the action of causing the feeling, while "elicit sympathy" focuses on drawing out a pre-existing feeling. They are largely interchangeable but have slightly different connotations.

Are there any negative connotations to using "provoke sympathy"?

Sometimes, "provoke sympathy" can suggest manipulation if the cause is insincere or exaggerated. Be mindful of the context and ensure the feeling is genuinely inspired by the situation.

What are some alternatives to "provoke sympathy" that I can use?

Alternatives include "arouse compassion", "stir pity", "invoke empathy", or "generate understanding", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.