substantial sympathy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial sympathy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a significant level of compassion or understanding towards someone else's situation or feelings. Example: "The community showed substantial sympathy for the victims of the disaster, organizing fundraisers and support groups to help them recover."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The millionaire grumbled that he "could not possibly protect [him]self from swindle so long as [he] manifested a willingness to show substantial sympathy".

The New York Times - Books

But despite the severe inconveniences, the protests continued to attract substantial sympathy from the public and to focus anger on the government.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Its once-substantial sympathy among the European left has waned: the European Union declared the ELN to be a terrorist group after it kidnapped eight foreign backpackers last year.In this section A giant stirs Harper's hour The next round Talking, again ReprintsAll this leaves the ELN with two options: negotiate disarmament and a political future; or be taken over by the larger FARC guerrillas.

The Economist

J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who oversaw the creation of the atomic bomb, was lauded as a patriot after the United States dropped the bomb on Japan, but nine years later he was disgraced, accused of Communist sympathies and "substantial defects of character".

The New Yorker

Like a Russian John Gotti, Mr. Barsukov curried public sympathy by using his substantial fortune to support science, the arts and the Russian Orthodox Church.

The New York Times

In Chicago, he founded and directed the Contemporary Music Ensemble, making it a point of pride to conduct works by substantial composers for whom he had little sympathy.

The New York Times - Arts

When key stakeholders are denied the substantial economic rewards of tourism, communities have little sympathy for elephant populations.

The Guardian

If Andy Hornby's public reception as he heads into his new role is anything to go by, you cannot help but have sympathy for other chief executives planning substantial career moves.

The Guardian - Business

With four weeks before the new elections, the winner may be decided by the sympathies of those who voted by third placed Sergio Massa who got a substantial 21.3percentt of the vote on Sunday.

Vice

The massive solemnity of his figures and simple, clear-cut compositions are wholly in sympathy with the demands of the Counter-Reformation, and only in Madrid did he come under substantial Italian influence.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Robert Anderson, a playwright whose intimate emotional dramas like "Tea and Sympathy" and "I Never Sang for My Father" attracted big names to the Broadway stage if not always substantial audiences to Broadway theaters, died Monday at home in Manhattan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "substantial sympathy", ensure the context warrants a significant degree of compassion or understanding. It's best suited for situations involving genuine hardship or suffering.

Common error

Avoid using "substantial sympathy" in everyday scenarios or minor inconveniences. Overusing it can dilute its impact and make your expression seem insincere.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial sympathy" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "substantial" modifies the noun "sympathy", indicating a significant or considerable degree of compassion. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is appropriate for expressing a notable level of understanding and care.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial sympathy" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for expressing a significant degree of compassion or understanding. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and notes its suitability for conveying genuine empathy in situations involving hardship. While not extremely common, it is most frequently found in news and media contexts. When writing, remember to use it when the situation warrants a significant level of compassion and avoid overuse in trivial situations. Consider alternatives like "considerable empathy" or "significant compassion" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

great empathy

Simply swaps "substantial" for "great", keeping the core meaning intact.

considerable empathy

Replaces "sympathy" with "empathy" and "substantial" with "considerable", emphasizing understanding of feelings.

significant compassion

Substitutes "sympathy" with "compassion", focusing on a feeling of concern for someone's suffering.

notable compassion

Uses "notable" to highlight the remarkableness of the compassion felt.

deep understanding

Replaces "sympathy" with "understanding", highlighting the cognitive aspect of grasping someone's situation.

marked solicitude

Uses "solicitude" to convey a sense of care and concern, making the phrase more formal.

profound concern

Emphasizes the depth of worry and care felt for someone or something.

generous heartedness

Shifts from specific emotion to a general quality of being kind and sympathetic.

ample commiseration

Focuses on sharing in someone's sorrow or hardship, using a more formal term.

real fellow feeling

Expresses a genuine sense of connection and shared emotion.

FAQs

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

You can use "substantial sympathy" to describe a significant level of compassion or understanding shown towards someone or something. For example: "The community showed "substantial sympathy" for the victims of the earthquake."

What's a good alternative to "substantial sympathy"?

Alternatives include "considerable empathy", "significant compassion", or "deep understanding" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "substantial empathy" or "substantial sympathy"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but "sympathy" typically implies feeling for someone, while "empathy" suggests understanding with someone. Choose the word that best reflects the nature of the feeling you want to express.

When is it appropriate to express "substantial sympathy"?

It is appropriate to express "substantial sympathy" in situations where someone has experienced significant loss, hardship, or suffering, and a considerable amount of compassion is warranted.