seek empathy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seek empathy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when encouraging someone to understand or share the feelings of another person. Example: "In difficult conversations, it's important to seek empathy to foster understanding and connection."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Technology gives individuals the power to share stories and seek empathy at a mass scale, and creates tools for action related to those stories.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Seeking empathy through sensationalism is something left-leaning liberals are frequently ridiculed for by the right.

The Guardian - Music

But as you see more and more in the world, there is a gradual shift from tourist to traveler -- the traveler being the one who wants to give rather than receive, who seeks empathy and understanding, who shuns vicarious experience and who wants to find a way to bridge the social and economic gaps that divide people.

The New York Times

Which is why I sought empathy for a man whose actions I found reprehensible.

Vice

Women sought empathy and gentleness in their interactions with HCPs.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

A hint about such differences could be the culturally dependent effects of rs53576 and rs2254298 on emotional support seeking, empathy, and ASD [ 22, 28], both in high LD' with rs59190448.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

(Language, what a feeble bridge!) It makes visible the experience of enlargement that we seek in empathy, or that surprises us in the sublime.

Huffington Post

Besides, Aquino et al. (2007) reported binding to the religion and seeking for empathy from individuals or groups act as a rescue path for cancer patients [ 27].

BMC Nursing

Indeed, some campaign programs designed to reduce anti-social behaviour seek to elicit empathy for the victims.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

In the rare cases where interprets were granted, the first session took a disproportionate amount of time: It takes ages if you really seek respect and empathy with one person through another person.

BMC Medical Ethics

Try empathy.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In sensitive situations, use "seek empathy" to encourage a deeper connection and understanding.

Common error

Don't demand empathy from others. Instead, create an environment where it can naturally arise through open communication and active listening.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seek empathy" functions as a directive or suggestion. It's used to encourage the act of trying to understand and share the feelings of others. This aligns with Ludwig's analysis of the phrase as correct and usable, encouraging understanding and connection.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "seek empathy" is a grammatically sound and semantically clear expression used to encourage understanding and shared feelings. As noted by Ludwig, it’s correct and usable in written English. While relatively infrequent, its applications span from interpersonal relationships to broader social contexts. Alternatives such as "pursue understanding" or "strive for compassion" offer similar meanings, but "seek empathy" particularly highlights the active pursuit of emotional connection. When using this phrase, emphasize genuine understanding over forced emotional responses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pursue understanding

Shifts the focus from feeling to intellectual comprehension.

strive for compassion

Emphasizes the active effort towards showing kindness.

cultivate empathy

Suggests a more deliberate and ongoing effort to develop empathy.

foster understanding

Implies creating an environment where empathy can grow.

develop compassion

Focuses on the growth of compassionate feelings.

show compassion

Highlights the outward expression of compassionate feelings.

understand feelings

Directly addresses the comprehension of another's emotions.

connect emotionally

Emphasizes the establishment of an emotional link with someone.

be understanding

Focuses on demonstrating acceptance and tolerance.

recognize emotions

Highlights the acknowledgement and awareness of emotional states.

FAQs

How can I use "seek empathy" in a sentence?

You can use "seek empathy" to encourage someone to try to understand another person's feelings. For example: "In conflicts, it's important to "seek empathy" to understand the other person's perspective."

What does "seek empathy" mean?

"Seek empathy" means to try to understand and share the feelings of another person.

Are there alternatives to "seek empathy"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "pursue understanding", "strive for compassion", or "cultivate empathy".

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "seek empathy"?

It's appropriate in contexts where you want to encourage understanding and emotional connection, such as in conflict resolution, interpersonal relationships, or social advocacy.