sympathize

verb

sym·​pa·​thize ˈsim-pə-ˌthīz 

sympathized; sympathizing

intransitive verb

1

: to be in keeping, accord, or harmony

2

: to react or respond in sympathy

3

: to share in suffering or grief : commiserate

sympathize with a friend in trouble

also : to express such sympathy

4

: to be in sympathy intellectually

sympathize with a proposal

sympathizer noun

Synonyms

• ache (for)
• bleed (for)
• commiserate (with)
• compassionate
• condole (with)
• feel (for)
• pity
• yearn (over)

Examples of sympathize in a Sentence

I sympathize but how can I help?

Recent Examples on the Web

In the comments, fellow Redditors sympathized with both the wife and husband's points of view. —Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 5 Jan. 2025

Fellow moms sympathized with the mom-to-be of three. —David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024

The killer’s knife, the first-person perspective, and the unnerving way in which audiences sympathize with Norman Bates all played a major role in the shaping genre, and its DNA is all over eventual slasher staples like Halloween and Scream. —Meagan Navarro, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024

So Nandor sits down with Guillermo and attempts to sympathize with him, while Colin offers empty platitudes better suited to a coffee mug. —Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sympathize

verb

sym·​pa·​thize ˈsim-pə-ˌthīz 

sympathized; sympathizing

1

: to share in suffering or grief : to feel or show sympathy

2

: to be in favor of something

sympathizer noun