adjective

sympathetic

sympathetic, compassionate, understanding, likeable

She was very sympathetic when I was ill.

She was very sympathetic when I was ill.

He is sympathetic to our cause.

He is sympathetic to our cause.

The film has a sympathetic main character.

The film has a sympathetic main character.

((to/towards sb./sth.)) feeling, showing, or expressing sympathy He is sympathetic to our cause.

likeable The film has a sympathetic main character.

Synonyms: compassionate, understanding, caring; Antonyms: unsympathetic, indifferent, callous

From Greek 'syn-' (together) + 'pathos' (feeling, suffering). The core meaning is 'feeling together'.

Imagine feeling someone's 'pathos' (pain) 'syn-' (with) them. This helps remember the meaning of compassion.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.