Sympathetic
adjective
Showing approval, understanding or compassion towards others' troubles or feelings.
He was sympathetic when his friend lost his job.
Often appears as...
- sympathetic look
- sympathetic ear
adjective
Relating to the part of the nervous system that makes the body ready for action by increasing the heart rate, etc.
The fight-or-flight response is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system.
Often appears as...
- sympathetic nervous system
- sympathetic response
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Supporting or agreeing with a cause, idea or person.
They were sympathetic to the workers' demands.
Often appears as...
- sympathetic to
- sympathetic towards
adjective
Showing approval, understanding or compassion towards others' troubles or feelings.
He was sympathetic when his friend lost his job.
Often appears as...
- sympathetic look
- sympathetic ear
adjective
Relating to the part of the nervous system that makes the body ready for action by increasing the heart rate, etc.
The fight-or-flight response is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system.
Often appears as...
- sympathetic nervous system
- sympathetic response
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Supporting or agreeing with a cause, idea or person.
They were sympathetic to the workers' demands.
Often appears as...
- sympathetic to
- sympathetic towards
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Empathic Nuance
Shows a deeper connection with someone's emotions than mere understanding.
Her sympathetic words soothed him after the loss of his pet.
Pro Tip 2/3Genuine Concern
Expresses true care and is not just a social formality.
His sympathetic gestures to the homeless were heartfelt.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Tone
Often carries a warm and kind emotional tone, not cold or indifferent.
She gave a sympathetic smile to her nervous daughter.
Pro Tip 1/3Empathic Nuance
Shows a deeper connection with someone's emotions than mere understanding.
Her sympathetic words soothed him after the loss of his pet.
Pro Tip 2/3Genuine Concern
Expresses true care and is not just a social formality.
His sympathetic gestures to the homeless were heartfelt.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Tone
Often carries a warm and kind emotional tone, not cold or indifferent.
She gave a sympathetic smile to her nervous daughter.
Pro Tip 1/3Empathic Nuance
Shows a deeper connection with someone's emotions than mere understanding.
Her sympathetic words soothed him after the loss of his pet.
Pro Tip 2/3Genuine Concern
Expresses true care and is not just a social formality.
His sympathetic gestures to the homeless were heartfelt.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Tone
Often carries a warm and kind emotional tone, not cold or indifferent.
She gave a sympathetic smile to her nervous daughter.
Compare with
attentivebenevolentcompassionateempatheticgeneroussensitivesupportunderstand
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Video examples
How changing your story...
But what's remarkable, is that for all of their differences, what both of these stories are about is a longing for connection. And if we can get out of the first-person narration and write the story from another character's perspective, suddenly that other character becomes much more sympathetic,
Video examples
A roadmap to end aging PIPE...
by the government not very many months ago. I mean, I know I'm with a sympathetic audience here, but, as we know, a lot of people are not entirely persuaded by this logic. And this is actually a rather good comparison, it seems to me. You know, a lot of people said, "Well, you know,
Video examples
How to Avoid Surveillance...
they believe that all communications -- emails, texts, voice calls -- all of these should be available to governments, and encryption is making that difficult. Now, look -- I'm extremely sympathetic to their point of view. We live in a dangerous time in a dangerous world,
Video examples
Why we get mad -- and...
What's more, it energizes you to confront that injustice. Think for a second about the last time you got mad. Your heart rate increased. Your breathing increased, you started to sweat. That's your sympathetic nervous system, otherwise known as your fight-or-flight system,
Video examples
Jonathan Haidt:...
are of very little use to ourselves, but they're of great use to our groups. He wrote about the scenario in which two tribes of early humans would have come in contact and competition. He said, "If the one tribe included a great number of courageous, sympathetic
Video examples
How one person saved...
on the pretense of checking for typhus outbreaks. At first, her group worked to smuggle in resources with the help of sympathetic Polish officials and the medical underground. But as desperate parents began sending their children through sewers and over walls,
Video examples
Understanding bipolar...
stigma the truth about bipolar disorder and mental illness really is no one really talks about it I've shared my condition with a few friends privately their reactions have ranged from surprise sympathetic pure uncomfortable they think they know
Video examples
Inspecting Agricultural...
I try to be very sympathetic, knowing that it's a local home town treat that is specific to that region. I try to go into it with a heart, but this is what is set forth when it comes to protecting US agricultural. Okay. What we got next?
Video examples
Wade Davis: Cultures at...
Now -- the problem -- the problem is that even those of us sympathetic with the plight of indigenous people view them as quaint and colorful but somehow reduced to the margins of history as the real world, meaning our world, moves on.
Video examples
Environment vs...
military government gave way to an elected one which was more sympathetic to Indians and environmentalists in the Brazil of today tribal rights are written down in the constitution large areas of rainforest to protect it by law
Video examples
How changing your story...
But what's remarkable, is that for all of their differences, what both of these stories are about is a longing for connection. And if we can get out of the first-person narration and write the story from another character's perspective, suddenly that other character becomes much more sympathetic,
Video examples
A roadmap to end aging PIPE...
by the government not very many months ago. I mean, I know I'm with a sympathetic audience here, but, as we know, a lot of people are not entirely persuaded by this logic. And this is actually a rather good comparison, it seems to me. You know, a lot of people said, "Well, you know,
Video examples
How to Avoid Surveillance...
they believe that all communications -- emails, texts, voice calls -- all of these should be available to governments, and encryption is making that difficult. Now, look -- I'm extremely sympathetic to their point of view. We live in a dangerous time in a dangerous world,
Video examples
Why we get mad -- and...
What's more, it energizes you to confront that injustice. Think for a second about the last time you got mad. Your heart rate increased. Your breathing increased, you started to sweat. That's your sympathetic nervous system, otherwise known as your fight-or-flight system,
Video examples
Jonathan Haidt:...
are of very little use to ourselves, but they're of great use to our groups. He wrote about the scenario in which two tribes of early humans would have come in contact and competition. He said, "If the one tribe included a great number of courageous, sympathetic
Video examples
How one person saved...
on the pretense of checking for typhus outbreaks. At first, her group worked to smuggle in resources with the help of sympathetic Polish officials and the medical underground. But as desperate parents began sending their children through sewers and over walls,
Video examples
Understanding bipolar...
stigma the truth about bipolar disorder and mental illness really is no one really talks about it I've shared my condition with a few friends privately their reactions have ranged from surprise sympathetic pure uncomfortable they think they know
Video examples
Inspecting Agricultural...
I try to be very sympathetic, knowing that it's a local home town treat that is specific to that region. I try to go into it with a heart, but this is what is set forth when it comes to protecting US agricultural. Okay. What we got next?
Video examples
Wade Davis: Cultures at...
Now -- the problem -- the problem is that even those of us sympathetic with the plight of indigenous people view them as quaint and colorful but somehow reduced to the margins of history as the real world, meaning our world, moves on.
Video examples
Environment vs...
military government gave way to an elected one which was more sympathetic to Indians and environmentalists in the Brazil of today tribal rights are written down in the constitution large areas of rainforest to protect it by law
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Gary Lineker
English Footballer
I can't understand why someone wouldn't have a degree of sympathy for people that had to flee their country, travel to try and find their home somewhere, and nobody wants them. How could you not be a little bit sympathetic?
Quote examples
Emily Giffin
American Author
I find flawed characters much more interesting than perfect ones and enjoy the challenge of making readers root for them in spite of their unsympathetic path and destructive choices.
Quote examples
Gerald R. Ford
American President
The pat on the back, the arm around the shoulder, the praise for what was done right and the sympathetic nod for what wasn't are as much a part of golf as life itself.
Quote examples
Gary Becker
American Economist
I was not sympathetic to the assumption that criminals had radically different motivations from everyone else.
Quote examples
George Saunders
American Writer
Developing our sympathetic compassion is not only possible but the only reason for us to be here on earth.
Quote examples
Steve Earle
American Musician
Sympathetic characters usually have a voice. They usually don't have any trouble being heard.
Quote examples
Lee Isaac Chung
American Director
I always loved Flannery O'Conner, and how she's not trying to create sympathetic characters.
Quote examples
George A. Romero
American Director
The zombie was just an intriguing character; it is a sympathetic character.
Quote examples
Homer
Greek Poet
A sympathetic friend can be quite as dear as a brother.
Quote examples
Howard Barker
British Playwright
I don't like sympathetic characters.
Quote examples
Gary Lineker
English Footballer
I can't understand why someone wouldn't have a degree of sympathy for people that had to flee their country, travel to try and find their home somewhere, and nobody wants them. How could you not be a little bit sympathetic?
Quote examples
Emily Giffin
American Author
I find flawed characters much more interesting than perfect ones and enjoy the challenge of making readers root for them in spite of their unsympathetic path and destructive choices.
Quote examples
Gerald R. Ford
American President
The pat on the back, the arm around the shoulder, the praise for what was done right and the sympathetic nod for what wasn't are as much a part of golf as life itself.
Quote examples
Gary Becker
American Economist
I was not sympathetic to the assumption that criminals had radically different motivations from everyone else.
Quote examples
George Saunders
American Writer
Developing our sympathetic compassion is not only possible but the only reason for us to be here on earth.
Quote examples
Steve Earle
American Musician
Sympathetic characters usually have a voice. They usually don't have any trouble being heard.
Quote examples
Lee Isaac Chung
American Director
I always loved Flannery O'Conner, and how she's not trying to create sympathetic characters.
Quote examples
George A. Romero
American Director
The zombie was just an intriguing character; it is a sympathetic character.
Quote examples
Homer
Greek Poet
A sympathetic friend can be quite as dear as a brother.
Quote examples
Howard Barker
British Playwright
I don't like sympathetic characters.
Example 1 of 10
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