sympathetic thought

USAGE SUMMARY

"sympathetic thought" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to express empathy or understanding someone else's perspective or feelings. For example, "Her kind words were met with a sympathetic thought from the group."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Spare a sympathetic thought, if you have one in you, for the Mittster.

The New Yorker

By John Cassidy August 22, 2012 Spare a sympathetic thought, if you have one in you, for the Mittster.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

I thought there was going to be some terrible story about an ailing child that would then force me to have warm and sympathetic thoughts about John Boehner.

The New York Times

German Nazi-sympathetic highbrow thought had some small distinction.

The New Yorker

High-level concepts from antecedent thought sympathetic to systems design and design thinking, organizational leadership and shared leadership, organizational learning and knowledge creation, and action research and evidence-based ­decision-making situate workplace enactment of Informed Systems.

Informed Systems Organizational Design for Learning in Action

Nikahang Kowsar, a prominent Iranian cartoonist, based in Canada, suggested that Hashemi Rafsanjani, an influential Iranian cleric thought to be sympathetic to the opposition, could be his successor.

The Guardian

When the Communists came to power, they arrested a number of even those Westerners who had been sympathetic, forcing them to undergo thought reform and confess to having been spies.

The New York Times

(See Altham, 1979, for a sympathetic defense of these guiding thoughts, and Schroeder, 2010, for a thorough treatment of the development of expressivism, with particular attention paid to the attempts to tackle the Frege-Geach argument).

SEP

Not only is Mr. West an academic philosopher schooled in Sidney Hook's brand of philosophical pragmatism, they point out, but his book "The American Evasion of Philosophy" (University of Wisconsin Press, 1989) contains a significant -- and sympathetic -- assessment of Hook's thought.

The New York Times - Arts

Many possible candidates can be seen as sympathetic to this emerging school of thought.

The New York Times - Magazine

Elrington, for all his sympathetic writing about parishes and medieval thought and practices, was a sensible and intelligent atheistic rationalist.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sympathetic thought" to convey a genuine sense of understanding and care for someone's situation or feelings.

Common error

While "sympathetic thought" is appropriate in many contexts, overuse in formal or academic writing can make your tone sound overly emotional. Instead, consider using more neutral phrases like "understanding" or "consideration" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sympathetic thought" functions as a noun phrase where "sympathetic" modifies the noun "thought". It indicates a feeling or expression of compassion and understanding towards someone or something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and can be used in written English to convey empathy.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sympathetic thought" is a grammatically sound phrase used to convey empathy and understanding. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for written English. Although its frequency is rare, it appears in reputable sources like The New Yorker and The New York Times. Its register is generally neutral, making it suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though more formal settings might prefer alternatives like "understanding" or "consideration". When using "sympathetic thought", ensure it aligns with the intended tone and consider related phrases like "compassionate consideration" or "empathetic understanding" for nuanced expressions of compassion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thoughtful empathy

Emphasizes the thoughtfulness behind the empathy.

empathetic understanding

Highlights the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

compassionate consideration

Emphasizes the compassionate aspect of thinking about someone's situation.

caring reflection

Implies a thoughtful and caring consideration.

considerate viewpoint

Focuses on the considerate aspect of a person's perspective.

understanding attitude

Focuses on the overall disposition of understanding.

supportive outlook

Highlights a perspective that provides support and encouragement.

kindhearted contemplation

Suggests a gentle and benevolent form of thinking.

warmhearted sentiment

Focuses on the warm and affectionate feelings involved.

gentle regard

Suggests a tender and respectful consideration.

FAQs

How can I use "sympathetic thought" in a sentence?

You can use "sympathetic thought" to express empathy or understanding. For example, "Her kind words were met with a "sympathetic thought" from the group".

What's a good alternative to "sympathetic thought"?

Alternatives include "compassionate consideration", "empathetic understanding", or "thoughtful empathy", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "sympathetic thought" formal or informal?

"Sympathetic thought" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but it's essential to consider the tone of your writing. In highly formal settings, alternatives like "understanding" or "consideration" may be more appropriate.

When is it best to use "sympathetic thought" over other similar phrases?

Use "sympathetic thought" when you specifically want to emphasize the thoughtful aspect of your empathy. It suggests a deeper level of consideration than simply saying you feel empathy.