SYMPATHY: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for SYMPATHY?

Need another word that means the same as “sympathy”? Find 23 synonyms and 30 related words for “sympathy” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Sympathy” are: fellow feeling, understanding, commiseration, pity, condolence, consolation, comfort, solace, support, encouragement, rapport, affinity, empathy, harmony, accord, compatibility, agreement, favour, approval, approbation, goodwill, commendation, partiality

Sympathy as a Noun

Definitions of "Sympathy" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “sympathy” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• The formal expression of pity or sorrow for someone else's misfortune.
• A relation of affinity or harmony between people; whatever affects one correspondingly affects the other.
• Sharing the feelings of others (especially feelings of sorrow or anguish.
• Support in the form of shared feelings or opinions.
• The state or fact of responding in a way similar or corresponding to an action elsewhere.
• An inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion.
• Relating harmoniously to something else; in keeping.
• Feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.
• Agreement with or approval of an opinion or aim; a favourable attitude.
• Understanding between people; common feeling.

Synonyms of "Sympathy" as a noun (23 Words)

accord	An official agreement or treaty. The government and the rebels are in accord on one point.
affinity	A natural attraction or feeling of kinship. An affinity for politics.
agreement	The thing arranged or agreed to. A trade agreement.
approbation	Approval or praise. A term of approbation.
approval	Acceptance as satisfactory. Words of approval seldom passed his lips.
comfort	A freedom from financial difficulty that promotes a comfortable state. His friendship was a great comfort.
commendation	An award given for very good performance. The book gives commendations for initiative.
commiseration	Expressions of sympathy and sorrow for another. Our commiserations to those who didn t win.
compatibility	A feeling of sympathy and friendship; like-mindedness. Software compatibility is another important factor to consider.
condolence	An expression of sympathy, especially on the occasion of the death of a person’s relative or close friend. Letters of condolence.
consolation	A person or thing providing consolation. Second place was no consolation to him.
empathy	The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
encouragement	The action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope. Incentives and encouragement to play sports.
favour	An act of kindness beyond what is due or usual. He was accused of showing favour to one of the players.
fellow feeling	One of a pair.
goodwill	The friendly hope that something will succeed. The scheme is dependent on goodwill between the two sides.
harmony	Agreement of opinions. Delightful cities where old and new blend in harmony.
partiality	A particular liking or fondness for something. An attack on the partiality of judges.
pity	A feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others. It s a pity you didn t contact us first.
rapport	A close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned understand each other’s feelings or ideas and communicate well. She was able to establish a good rapport with the children.
solace	The comfort you feel when consoled in times of disappointment. She sought solace in her religion.
support	A musical part vocal or instrumental that supports or provides background for other musical parts. The foundation provided support for the experiment.
understanding	The ability to understand something; comprehension. There was an understanding between management and the workers.

Usage Examples of "Sympathy" as a noun

• The magnetic field oscillates in sympathy.
• The two of them were in close sympathy.
• Repairs had to be in sympathy with the original structure.
• The special sympathy between the two boys was obvious to all.
• I have some sympathy for this view.
• They had great sympathy for the flood victims.
• His sympathies lay with his constituents.
• All Tony's friends joined in sending their sympathies to his widow Jean.

Associations of "Sympathy" (30 Words)

benefaction	A contribution of money or assistance. Take official receipt of such benefaction.
benevolence	An inclination to do kind or charitable acts.
commiserate	Feel or express pity for (someone. She went over to commiserate with Rose on her unfortunate circumstances.
compassion	The humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it. The victims should be treated with compassion.
compassionate	Share the suffering of. She tried to sound compassionate.
comprehend	To become aware of through the senses. A divine order comprehending all men.
empathetic	Showing empathy or ready comprehension of others’ states. I have been touched by the empathetic response to my bad luck.
empathize	Understand and share the feelings of another. Counsellors need to be able to empathize with people.
empathy	The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
frivolousness	The trait of being frivolous; not serious or sensible.
hangdog	Having a dejected or guilty appearance; shamefaced. The hangdog look of a condemned man.
homeless	Physically or spiritually homeless or deprived of security. The plight of young homeless people.
merciful	Showing or exercising mercy. Sought merciful treatment for the captives.
mercy	The feeling that motivates compassion. Distributing food and clothing to the flood victims was an act of mercy.
pathetic	Relating to the emotions. She looked so pathetic that I bent down to comfort her.
pathos	A quality that arouses emotions (especially pity or sorrow. The actor injects his customary humour and pathos into the role.
piteous	Deserving or inciting pity. Piteous appeals for help.
pitiable	Contemptibly poor or small. The men were in a pitiable condition.
pity	Feel sorrow for the misfortunes of. What a pity we can t be friends.
poignancy	The quality of evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret; pathos. A moment of extraordinary poignancy.
poor	Lacking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in a society. The water is poor in nutrients.
regretful	Feeling or showing regret. Regretful over mistakes she had made.
regrettable	Deserving regret. Irresponsible and regrettable actions.
ruth	The great-grandmother of king David whose story is told in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament.
savvy	Well informed about or experienced in a particular domain. These fashion savvy consumers are not afraid of taking risks with little known designers.
selflessness	The quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others. A noble act of selflessness.
sentimentality	Falsely emotional in a maudlin way. There are passages which verge on sentimentality.
sympathetic	Relating to or denoting the part of the autonomic nervous system consisting of nerves arising from ganglia near the middle part of the spinal cord supplying the internal organs blood vessels and glands and balancing the action of the parasympathetic nerves. He spoke in a sympathetic tone.
underdog	One at a disadvantage and expected to lose. What is it like to be an underdog in America.
understanding	Characterized by understanding based on comprehension and discernment and empathy. My understanding was that he would find a new supplier.