sympathy

USAGE SUMMARY

"sympathy" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to express understanding, pity, or compassion for someone who is experiencing difficulty, sorrow, or misfortune. For example, "I feel sympathy for you, knowing how difficult this must be for you."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Out of my depth, and committed to a professional political engagement I no longer believe in, I suddenly have every sympathy for David Cameron.

The Guardian - Opinion

Orbán has already expressed his sympathy for "capitalism with Asian values"; if the European pressure on Orbán continues, we can easily imagine him sending a message to the east: 'We are defending Asia here!' Today's anti-immigrant populism has replaced direct barbarism with a barbarism that has a human face.

The Guardian

I winced in sympathy at female tennis players who have their periods during Wimbledon, when they must wear white and are allowed one toilet break per set.

The Guardian - Opinion

The protest echoes the calls for athletes to express sympathy for gay and lesbian Russians during the Sochi Olympics.

The Guardian

Week 3: Workshop focusing on character and dialogue - Tuesday 22nd September The discussion will include naturalism and authenticity, restriction, identity, reliability, sympathy, time and transformation, cliché, observation and detail, interiority and exteriority, activity and psychology, and reader interpretation.

The Guardian

Sporting bodies who entangle their national teams in a surfeit of red tape tend to receive little sympathy.

The Guardian - Sport

There was talk on here last week that Mitchell's journey was taking him too far out of the realm of sympathy.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

There have been times when senior officials in Brussels and the IMF have shown their sympathy for a country that must spend the next 42 years paying back an average of €10bn (£7bn) a year to the IMF, the European Central Bank, the EU and each EU country that has made loans separately – not to mention the private sector creditors.

The Guardian

Later, when she sent me the bill for her lingerie, which she claimed had ripped when she fell from the chair, I began feeling "pity, sympathy, tenderness, or sorrow" for myself, especially when my wife found the Visa bill and was like, "Who the hell is Edna Sapperton?" Why is pathos useful?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was this sympathy for his subjects that enabled him to move among them without being physically attacked.

The Guardian

Whatever the truth, most locals have little sympathy.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sympathy" to convey an understanding and sharing of another person's feelings, especially in times of sorrow or distress. Ensure the context aligns with genuine compassion rather than mere pity.

Common error

Avoid using "sympathy" when you intend to express "empathy". "Sympathy" is feeling for someone, while "empathy" is feeling with someone. Empathy involves a deeper understanding and sharing of the other person's emotions.

Linguistic Context

The word "sympathy" functions primarily as a noun, referring to a feeling of pity, sorrow, or compassion for someone else's suffering. Ludwig examples show it used to describe feelings towards individuals or groups in difficult situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sympathy" is a versatile noun expressing compassion and understanding for others' suffering. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and widely used term in written English. While closely related to "empathy", it focuses more on feeling for someone rather than with them. It's "very common" across various contexts, notably in news, business, and scientific writing. Effective use of "sympathy" involves genuine concern and awareness of its distinction from empathy, ensuring your expression aligns with the intended sentiment of support and understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compassion

Focuses more on the emotional understanding and desire to alleviate another's suffering.

empathy

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

pity

Implies a feeling of sorrow and condescension for someone's misfortune.

understanding

Stresses the cognitive aspect of grasping someone's situation.

condolences

Formal expression of sorrow, typically used after a death.

commiseration

Sharing in sorrow or suffering; expressing shared feelings of unhappiness.

solace

Offering comfort or consolation in a time of distress.

concern

Expresses a sense of worry and care for someone's well-being.

support

Highlights the act of providing assistance and encouragement.

consolation

Act of alleviating someone's grief or distress.

FAQs

How can I use "sympathy" in a sentence?

You can use "sympathy" to express feelings of pity or sorrow for someone's suffering. For example, "I felt great sympathy for her after hearing about her loss."

What are some alternatives to the word "sympathy"?

Alternatives to "sympathy" include "compassion", "empathy", and "pity", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "sympathy" and "empathy"?

"Sympathy" involves feeling sorry for someone, whereas "empathy" involves understanding and sharing their feelings.

When is it appropriate to express "sympathy"?

It is appropriate to express "sympathy" when someone is experiencing hardship, loss, or suffering. Your expression should be sincere and aimed at providing comfort or support.