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

Minaya, meanwhile, sympathized with Preller’s need for quality and quantity, as the Padres had sacrificed a large, talented package to acquire Soto from the Nationals in 2022. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 24 May 2024

Young Americans are more likely to sympathize with the Palestinians than the Israeli peoples, according to a new Pew report. —Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAY, 7 May 2024

Schwartz sympathized with the magnitude of Stamp’s family’s loss, explaining to Anderson the ripple effect of her crimes. —Taylor Hartz, Hartford Courant, 20 Mar. 2024

The sharp decline does correspond with Trump’s trade war against China, but outside the U.S. Republican Party, few sympathized with his unilateral imposition of tariffs. —James Millward, Foreign Affairs, 23 Jan. 2023

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