sympathize with

USAGE SUMMARY

"sympathize with" is correct and usable in written English.
You use "sympathize with" to indicate that you understand and share a feeling or emotion with someone else. For example: "I sympathize with your struggles during this difficult time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I sympathize with Beckey.

The New York Times

I sympathize with that.

Stanford University

Others sympathize with Makino.

The Washington Post

I sympathize with you, Mom.

The New York Times

I sympathize with them.

The Washington Post

We sympathize with the government.

The New York Times

Children sympathize with him.

The New York Times - Arts

We sympathize with you.

The New York Times

I thoroughly sympathize with you.

The New York Times - Arts

I sympathize with these concerns.

The Washington Post

I can sympathize with them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sympathize with" when you genuinely understand and share someone's feelings or experiences, avoiding insincere or superficial expressions of empathy.

Common error

Avoid using "sympathize with" as a substitute for agreeing with someone's actions or opinions. You can sympathize with someone's struggles without condoning their choices.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sympathize with" functions as a verb phrase, expressing understanding and compassion towards someone or something. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, showing it is actively used to express a feeling of shared emotion or understanding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

7%

Wiki

5%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sympathize with" is a versatile and frequently used expression for conveying understanding and empathy. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability. It is most commonly found in news and media, formal business settings, and academic discourse. When using this phrase, ensure it reflects a genuine understanding of someone's feelings, rather than mere agreement. Exploring alternatives like "feel for" or "empathize with" can further refine your expression of compassion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

empathize with

Shares the same feelings as another person.

share someone's pain

Indicates a deep connection and understanding of someone's suffering.

feel for

Expresses empathy or compassion towards someone.

commiserate with

Shares sorrow or hardship with someone.

understand

Acknowledges and comprehends someone's situation or feelings.

show compassion for

Displays kindness and concern for someone's suffering.

be understanding of

Demonstrates patience and tolerance towards someone's situation.

relate to

Finds a connection or similarity between one's own experiences and those of another.

be in tune with

Expresses alignment with the feelings or thoughts of another person.

pity

Feels sorrow or compassion for someone's misfortune.

FAQs

How can I use "sympathize with" in a sentence?

You can use "sympathize with" to express understanding and compassion for someone's feelings or situation. For example, "I sympathize with your frustration about the project delay."

What are some alternatives to saying "I sympathize with"?

Alternatives include "I feel for you", "I understand", or "I empathize with you", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I sympathize for" instead of "I sympathize with"?

No, the correct phrasing is "I sympathize with". Using "for" is grammatically incorrect in this context.

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

"Sympathize with" implies understanding someone's feelings, while "empathize with" suggests sharing and deeply understanding their feelings as if you were experiencing them yourself.