sympathize

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "sympathize" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express understanding and compassion towards someone else, or their situation. For example: "I sympathize with you and how difficult this must be for you."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

While we sympathize with the calls for fair burden-sharing when it comes to illegals, Europe faces a bigger immigration problem if Frontex is handicapped by political squabbles.

The Economist

We're taking it all the way!" [Cue the rah-rah blast emails.] While I kind of sympathize with that view (emphasis on "kind of"), I also think it's incredibly short-sighted.

The Economist

Despite its imperfections, I haven't many teachers eager to do away with grades, and while I've seen a lot of teachers complain about being evaluated based on test scores a complaint with which I sympathize—I've never seen a persuasive defense of "masters degrees earned" or "years worked" as a better metric of quality.

The Economist

Frankly, one has to sympathize with this.

The Economist

The liberal Catholic reformers could sympathize with Luther's program except for its identification of the papacy with Antichrist, which recalled the accusations of medieval heretics.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In Almayer's Folly (1895) and Lord Jim (1900), he had seemed to sympathize with this predicament; but in "Heart of Darkness" (1902), Nostromo (1904), The Secret Agent (1907), and Under Western Eyes (1911), he detailed such imposition, and the psychological pathologies he increasingly associated with it, without sympathy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Under the political and spiritual leadership of the mathematic Archytas, a friend of Plato, Tarentum became a new centre of Pythagoreanism, from which acousmatics—so-called Pythagorists who did not sympathize with Archytas went out travelling as mendicant ascetics all around the Greek-speaking world.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In England, Adam Smith, developing the ethical concepts of David Hume (founded on sympathy), surmounted the egoism that is the basis of every act by using the principle of the impartial observer invoked to sympathize with one or another of the antagonists.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A series of revolts resulted, which Bayezid was unable or unwilling to suppress, because of his involvements in Europe and because his mystic preferences inclined him to sympathize with the religious message of the rebels.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There he is visited by his loyal servant Flavius, by the churlish philosopher Apemantus, and by two mistresses of the general Alcibiades, all of whom sympathize to some degree with Timon's plight, but to no avail; Timon has turned his back on ungrateful humankind.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, the vast majority of Cubans had come to sympathize with the rebels, who held most of the countryside.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sympathize" to express understanding and compassion, but be mindful of the context. Overuse can sometimes sound insincere. Consider alternatives like "empathize" or "understand" for a more nuanced expression.

Common error

While both words relate to understanding others' feelings, "sympathize" often implies feeling sorry for someone, while "empathize" suggests a deeper, shared understanding of their emotions. Use "empathize" when you want to convey a sense of truly understanding and sharing another person's feelings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "sympathize" is as an intransitive verb, expressing the act of feeling or showing sympathy. Ludwig examples showcase its use in conveying understanding and compassion towards others' situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Encyclopedias

26%

Science

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

6%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sympathize" is a grammatically correct and very commonly used verb that expresses understanding and compassion. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is straightforward, though distinguishing it from "empathize" is crucial for conveying the intended emotional depth. Its frequent appearance in news, encyclopedias, and scientific texts underscores its versatility across different communication contexts. To enhance your writing, ensure you use "with" when indicating who you are sympathizing with and consider alternative phrases like "empathize with" or "feel for" to add nuance to your expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

empathize with

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

commiserate with

Suggests a shared feeling of unhappiness or disappointment.

feel for

Emphasizes the emotional connection and understanding of someone's situation.

show compassion

Emphasizes the act of demonstrating kindness and concern for someone's suffering.

be understanding of

Highlights a tolerant and accepting attitude towards someone's circumstances.

understand

Focuses on cognitive comprehension of someone's situation or feelings.

relate to

Indicates a personal connection or shared experience with someone's situation.

share someone's sorrow

Specifically refers to feeling sadness or grief alongside someone.

be in agreement with

Focuses on sharing the same opinion or belief as someone.

pity

Implies a feeling of sorrow and compassion, sometimes with a hint of condescension.

FAQs

How do you use "sympathize" in a sentence?

You can use "sympathize" to express that you understand and feel sorry for someone's hardship. For example, "I "sympathize" with your loss" shows your understanding and compassion.

What's the difference between "sympathize" and "empathize"?

"Sympathize" means to feel sorry for someone's misfortune, while "empathize" means to understand and share the feelings of another person. "Empathize" is generally considered a stronger and more profound connection.

What are some alternatives to using "sympathize"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "empathize with", "feel for", "understand", or "show compassion" to convey similar meanings.

Is it correct to say "I sympathize for you"?

No, the correct usage is "I "sympathize with you"". The preposition "with" is necessary when "sympathize" is followed by the person you are sympathizing with.