empathetic

adjective

em·​pa·​thet·​ic ˌem-pə-ˈthe-tik 

: involving, characterized by, or based on empathy

empathetically

ˌem-pə-ˈthe-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• commiserative
• compassionate
• empathic
• humane
• sympathetic
• understanding

Examples of empathetic in a Sentence

an empathetic social worker who soon realized that the single mother was at her breaking point

Recent Examples on the Web

As the demand for empathetic leadership rises, leaders must learn to balance caring for others with self-care. —Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

Belinda, the empathetic spa manager of the fictional resort White Lotus Maui in Season 1, returns for Season 3, which takes place in Thailand and debuted Feb. 16. —Gerald Narciso Jeremie Souteyrat, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025

The first season was standard Sorkin — a group of empathetic people working to deliver the news for the sake of the facts and bettering the world (never mind the ratings). —EW.com, 19 Feb. 2025

Skilled clinicians remain crucial to high-quality empathetic care. —Erin Brodwin, Axios, 18 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for empathetic

• alphabetic
• anaesthetic
• anesthetic
• antithetic
• apathetic
• arithmetic
• cybernetic
• diabetic
• dietetic
• diuretic
• energetic
• geodetic