sympathysym‧pa‧thy /ˈsɪmpəθi/ ●●○ W3 noun (plural sympathies) 
I have a lot of sympathy for her; she had to bring up the children on her own. I have absolutely no sympathy for students who get caught cheating in exams. Our sympathies are with the families of the victims.2[plural, uncountable] belief in or support for a plan, idea, or action, especially a political onein sympathy with something Willard is in sympathy with many Green Party issues. Her sympathies lie firmly with the Conservative Party.Communist/Republican/left-wing etc sympathies Matheson is known for his pro-socialist sympathies.sympathy with/for Sullivan expressed sympathy for the striking federal workers.3[uncountable] a feeling that you understand someone because you are similar to them: There was no personal sympathy between them.COLLOCATIONSverbshave/feel sympathy for somebody· It’s hard not to feel sympathy for the losing team.express/offer (your) sympathy· Everyone there expressed their sympathy.get sympathy from somebody· I thought at least I’d get some sympathy from you.deserve sympathy· He doesn't deserve any sympathy - it's his own fault.play on somebody’s sympathy (=make someone feel sorry for you in order to get an advantage for yourself)· If that doesn’t work, she knows how to play on his sympathy.expect sympathy· I know I can’t expect any sympathy from her!adjectivesdeep/deepest sympathy (=used when someone is upset after a death)· We'd like to offer our deepest sympathy to Hilda and her family.great sympathy· I have great sympathy for the people affected by the housing crisis.phrasesa message/letter of sympathy· We are grateful for all the messages of sympathy we have received.an expression of sympathy· I murmured an expression of sympathy.have every sympathy for somebody (=feel very sorry for someone - often used when you have had a similar experience yourself)· I have every sympathy for people who find it hard to give up smoking.you have my sympathy (=used when saying that you feel sorry for someone)· It must be difficult – you have my sympathy.extend your sympathy to somebody formal (=express sympathy)· I’d like to extend my deepest sympathy to the victim’s family.my/our sympathy goes out to somebody formal (=used to formally express sympathy)· Our sympathy goes out to Peggy in her great loss.
WORD ORIGINsympathy
Origin:
1500-1600 Latin sympathia, from Greek sympatheia, from sympathes ‘sharing feelings, sympathetic’, from syn- ( ➔ SYN-) + pathos ‘feelings’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- I'm not asking for sympathy.
- Relatives of the aircrash victims were treated with great sympathy.
- She looked at him with sympathy.
- The Prime Minister expressed outrage at the attack, and sympathy for the families of the victims.
- The trip also is intended to raise money and sympathy for the plight of the Tibetan people.
- You have my deepest sympathy, and my thoughts are with you.
- By showing the parts that came to make the whole, Albee allows for sympathy.
- Five hundred spectators groaned in sympathy.
- Garrison, in sympathy, sat with them for the rest of the convention.
- He's about as likely to have sympathy for the devil as he is to have satisfaction.
- Now he began to wonder if his sympathy was misplaced.
- The best writers manage to have sympathy for all their characters; there is always more than one side to represent.
- The longest story is so full of pathos that the joke lines elicit only sympathy, not laughter.
- There was no cause for any sympathy at that time.
Longman Language Activatorto agree with an idea/person/political party
to agree with an idea, plan, political party etc, and want it to succeed: · I have always supported the Democrats.· She wrote a newspaper article supporting the idea of a minimum wage for workers.strongly support: · Plans for a new school were strongly supported by local residents.support somebody in something: · Public opinion in America supported Gandhi in his struggle for an independent India.
British /be in favor of American to support a plan or suggestion because you think it is a good idea: · Most UN delegates are in favour of the new peace plan.be in favour of doing something: · Some teachers were in favour of retaining the existing system.be all in favour of something especially spoken (=completely agree with): · I'm all in favour of people having smaller cars.
: pro-democracy/pro-government/pro-independence etc supporting democracy, the government etc: · The pro-independence group has been attacked and suppressed.· pro-western forces· The 'pro-choice' group believes in the right to abortion.
to think that someone's aims or ideas, especially political ideas, are right and that you should support them: · Many Democrats were in sympathy with Reagan's policies on Nicaragua.· Soldiers were punished severely if they were suspected of sympathising with student agitators.
to show publicly that you support a plan or action, especially by voting for it: · The convention endorsed the peace programme.· The President's position was endorsed by a large majority of the Senate.fully endorse: · I fully endorse the measures taken to improve safety standards.
formal to publicly support a plan or way of doing something, especially one that you have suggested yourself: · They advocated state control of all public services.· Some extremists are now openly advocating violence.
if you are with someone, you agree with what they are trying to do, and you are willing to help them: · We need people now for the anti-government march. Are you with us or against us?be with somebody all the way (=support someone fully): · When you are fighting an election campaign, you need to feel that your party is with you all the way.
a feeling of sympathy the feeling you have when you are sorry for someone who is having problems, and you understand how they feel: · Relatives of the aircrash victims were treated with great sympathy.· She looked at him with sympathy.· The trip also is intended to raise money and sympathy for the plight of the Tibetan people.have/feel/express sympathy for somebody: · The Prime Minister expressed outrage at the attack, and sympathy for the families of the victims.deep sympathy (=a very strong feeling of sympathy): · You have my deepest sympathy, and my thoughts are with you.
a feeling that you have when you feel very sorry for someone, often when you are unable to help them: · It's a civil war. They don't want our pity, they need our help.· When I returned to school, my classmates looked at me with pity in their eyes.feel/have pity: · I felt such pity for that young girl sitting alone in the bus station.be full of pity/be filled with pity: · She was full of pity for the little boy with no one to love and care for him.
a strong feeling of pity for someone who is suffering, and a desire to help them: · Of course we must insist on punishment, but the criminal must also be treated with compassion.compassion for/to/towards: · Russell's father had no compassion for his son's physical disabilities.· What are you doing now to show compassion toward the victims of torture?
a sympathetic attitude to someone that is based on your understanding: · Demonstrate your empathy and understanding of your children's problems. · There seems to be a lack of understanding on the part of managers when it comes to employees' personal problems.· The book gave me an understanding of what it must be like to be addicted to drugs.
to not feel sorry for someone in a bad situation to feel that someone's problems are their own fault: · I have no sympathy for him - he hasn't even tried to look for a job.· I'm afraid I don't have much sympathy for people who spend more than they can afford and then find themselves in debt.have/feel little sympathy for somebody: · The fact is that most Americans feel little sympathy for AIDS sufferers.
spoken use this humorously when you do not feel any sympathy at all for someone: · "He says he can't come out tonight because he has to look after the kids." "My heart bleeds! That must be the first time he's stayed in with them since they were born!"
to feel sorry because someone else is in a bad situation to feel sad for someone because they have had bad luck or they are in a bad situation: · I think he felt sorry for me because I'd just lost my wallet.· He'll probably go to jail for this. It's his wife I feel sorry for.· I feel sorry for the poor person who's going to have to sort this mess out.· I feel really sorry for young married couples these days. It's hard going for them.can't help feeling sorry for somebody (=use this when you should not really feel sorry for someone, but you do): · I know he's being a jerk, but I can't help feeling a little sorry for him.
also sympathise British to feel sad for someone who is having problems, because you understand how they feel: · My dear, I completely understand and sympathize, but there's not much I can do about it, really.sympathize with: · She felt Mark should have sympathised with her and supported her, instead of criticizing. sympathize with somebody's plight/problems/dilemma: · It's hard not to sympathize with the plight of single parents in today's world.
to feel sad for someone who is having problems, because you understand how they feel: · I have great sympathy for anyone who has lived through depression.· It wasn't possible not to feel sympathy for Anna -- she'd lost her husband and her son in the space of only a few weeks.have/feel deep sympathy for: · The judge said he had the deepest sympathy for Maria's situation, but that he had no option but to sentence her.
to sympathize very strongly and sincerely with someone who has problems, is suffering etc: · Of course I feel for him - he's my brother. But he did bring it on himself.· You couldn't help but feel for Charles. He'd been so unlucky in life.
to feel very sorry for someone who is in a much worse situation than you: · I pity anyone who has to feed a family on such a low income.· I don't want you to pity me - I just want you to help me.· He felt pity for Marla out there all by herself in some little nowhere town.
spoken use this to say that you feel extremely sorry for someone, especially because something very sad has happened to them: · I know how awfully disappointed you must be, and my heart goes out to you.· My heart went out to all those poor little children standing shivering in the cold.
to feel sorry for someone and do something to help them: · The old couple, poor as they were, took pity on her and gave her food.· We walked on through the pouring rain until a kind driver took pity on us and offered us a ride.
to realize that someone is unhappy or having problems, and behave kindly to them: · I'm sure if you talk to your boss, he'll understand.· You can only apologize, and hope that she'll understand.understand why/what/how: · I completely understand how things are when money is tight.· We're trying very hard to understand what she's going through.
to tell someone that you sympathize with them formal to tell someone that you feel sympathy for them, especially in a letter, after someone they love has died: · She wrote a short letter offering her sympathy.· Bouquets and hand-written cards offering sympathy surrounded the scene of the accident.offer your sympathy to: · My husband joins me in offering our sincere sympathy to you and to Susan at this sad time.
formal to express your sympathy for someone when they are unhappy about something, especially something that is not really very serious: · 'Poor Alistair!' she commiserated. 'Let me buy you lunch.'commiserate with: · When he failed his driving test, I called him up and commiserated with him.commiserate about: · In several of their letters, Hartley and Burns commiserated about the problems of old age.
to express sympathy to someone whose close relative or friend has died - use this in formal or official situations: send/offer/express condolences to: · We take this opportunity to send our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this disaster.· After the funeral, foreign ambassadors lined up to offer their condolences to the widow of the late president.deep/heartfelt/sincere condolences: · In a statement read on television, Saleh expressed 'deepest condolences' to the families of the victims.
to try to make someone feel sorry for you also play for sympathy to unfairly try to make someone feel sorry for you, in order to gain an advantage for yourself: · She had lain in her bed for years, feigning illness and playing on the sympathy of her daughters.· He decided it was best to play for sympathy on this occasion, because she might know if he tried to lie.
a story or explanation, especially one that is untrue, told by someone in order to make other people feel sorry for them: · A beggar approached me with some hard-luck story about an accident.give somebody a hard-luck/sob story: · The defendant gave us some sob story about a sick child.
what you say to tell someone that you sympathize spoken say this to tell someone you are sad that something bad has happened to them: · I heard about your father's death; I'm very sorry.· Jules, I am sorry. I had no idea.I'm sorry about: · Mavis, I'm really sorry about your Ma. It must have been a terrible shock.
spoken say this to tell someone that you are worried about them and that you hope they will be all right: · Take care, Lucy. I'll be thinking of you.· Tell Harry I'll be thinking of him and I hope he'll be home soon.
British spoken say this to show your sympathy for someone who has tried to do something and failed: · Bad luck, Paul. I'm sure you'll pass next time.· Oh what a shame. Bad luck Chris.
formal written use this in a letter to someone you do not know very well, whose close relative or friend has died: · We were so sorry to hear of your sister's death. You have our deepest sympathy.
WORD SETSagitate, verbagitation, nounagitator, nounbipartisan, adjectivebipartite, adjectivebloc, nounBolshevik, nouncapitalism, nouncentrist, adjectivecoalition, nouncommie, nouncommunism, nouncommunist, nouncommunist, adjectiveCon, confederacy, nounconfederate, nounconfederation, nouncongress, nounconservatism, nounDem., disloyal, adjectivedissident, noundivide, verbdivisive, adjectivefascism, nounfascist, nounfederal, adjectivefederate, verbfederation, nounfront, nounginger group, nounhegemony, nounheterodox, adjectiveIndependent, nouninfighting, nouninterest group, nounIRA, nounIron Curtain, the, Lab, Labour, nounleftie, nounleftist, adjectiveleft-of-centre, adjectiveleft-wing, adjectivelefty, nounLib Dem, nounLiberal, nounLiberal Democrats, nounLiberal Party, loyalist, nounLuddite, nounmachine, nounmajority leader, nounminority leader, nounmoderate, adjectivemoderate, nounmonarchist, nounmovement, nounnationalism, nounnationalist, adjectivenationalist, nounNazi, nounneutral, adjectivenon-partisan, adjectivepalace revolution, nounparamilitary, adjectivepartisan, adjectivepartisan, nounparty, nounparty political, adjectiveparty politics, nounpinko, nounpro-, prefixpro-choice, adjectiveR, rabble-rousing, nounradical, nounrally, nounreactionary, adjectiverealign, verbrebel, nounrebellion, nounrebellious, adjectivered, adjectivered, nounrepublican, nounrevolt, nounrevolt, verbrevolutionary, adjectiverevolutionary, nounrightist, adjectiveright-of-centre, adjectiveright-wing, adjectiveroyalist, nounseparatist, nounspecial interest group, nounsplinter group, nounsplit, verbsubcommittee, nounsubversion, nounsuffragette, nounsympathizer, nounsympathy, nountendency, nounTory, nounTrotskyite, nountrue-blue, adjectiveUnionist, nounuprising, nounWhig, nounwing, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs The Coroner extended his sympathy to the victim’s family.
· It’s hard not to feel sympathy for the losing team.
· Everyone there expressed their sympathy.
· I thought at least I’d get some sympathy from you.
· He doesn't deserve any sympathy - it's his own fault.
(=make someone feel sorry for you in order to get an advantage for yourself)· If that doesn’t work, she knows how to play on his sympathy.
· I know I can’t expect any sympathy from her!
adjectives (=used when someone is upset after a death)· We'd like to offer our deepest sympathy to Hilda and her family.
· I have great sympathy for the people affected by the housing crisis.
phrases· We are grateful for all the messages of sympathy we have received.
· I murmured an expression of sympathy.
(=feel very sorry for someone - often used when you have had a similar experience yourself)· I have every sympathy for people who find it hard to give up smoking.
(=used when saying that you feel sorry for someone)· It must be difficult – you have my sympathy.
formal (=express sympathy)· I’d like to extend my deepest sympathy to the victim’s family.
formal (=used to formally express sympathy)· Our sympathy goes out to Peggy in her great loss.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· She sought to excite the jury's sympathy at every possible opportunity.
(=say that you feel sorry for someone who is in a bad situation)· I wrote to his widow expressing our sympathy and sending her our condolences.
· There was no apology, no expression of sympathy for what Anna had suffered.
The Coroner extended his sympathy to the victim’s family.· Other celebrities sent messages of support.
· A wave of relief washed over Harry.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Do you feel a certain sympathy with this point of view?· One feels a certain sympathy for those selected to carry the torch in New Zealand.
· There is considerable sympathy for members of the public who commit some minor infringement under circumstances which are considered justifiable and understandable.· I have considerable sympathy for what the two new clauses seek to do.· I had considerable sympathy with the sentiment expressed in the poster.· Also, and in sharp contrast with his attitude during the General Strike, he exhibited considerable sympathy for the miners.
· Cruelty factor: 5 / 10 Please accept my deepest sympathy as respect of Mr David Cunningham.· What there is instead is a deep sense of sympathy with those who have been damaged by the flood.· With deep sympathy - get out!· He wants to express his deep sympathy to the Humphreys family.· We extend our deepest sympathy to her family.· The rector offered his deepest sympathy to Richard's parents.
· When the child's father heard Kerry's story, he was full of sympathy and concern.· The room is full of sympathy cards.· Russell's screenplay is full of announced sympathy for ordinary people's lives, and actual condescension.
· People were unfailingly courteous and showed great sympathy - but throughout, all eyes were firmly on Abu Dhabi.· I had great sympathy for his plight.· Mr. Newton I have great sympathy with every point that my hon. Friend made.· I have great sympathy for people who are suffering through private nightmares of hopelessness and loss.· I have great sympathy for the police.· Why the great sympathy for the criminals?· The Hillsborough disaster seemed to encourage a period of self-reflection and greater public sympathy for the beleaguered game of soccer.· Gary had much greater sympathy with the second camp than with the first.
· There were disgusted nods, but little sense of sympathy from either.· A little more sympathy and better treatment options.· This man had as little sympathy for the environment as a pike might have kind feelings towards a minnow.· It also apparently has little sympathy from other areas of the world.· Pleas about competition were regarded with much suspicion and little sympathy by the trade unions.· Surprisingly little sympathy too - considering the discomfort haemorrhoids can cause.
· Indeed, they have probably risen in public sympathy precisely because they have been attacked and weakened.· Prosecution only fed a growing public sympathy for her and her cause.· Nowadays there is widespread public sympathy.· The Hillsborough disaster seemed to encourage a period of self-reflection and greater public sympathy for the beleaguered game of soccer.· Clarke engaged in a vigorous debate with the doctors but found public sympathy running against him.· All the newspapers carried the story and there was a wave of public sympathy for him.· Has increased public sympathy cost us too dear?· There was much public sympathy for the miners in general, however rebarbative the personality and creed of Arthur Scargill himself.
· Once again I felt no real sympathy coming from him; simply his obsessive and inexplicable curiosity.· The woman, on the other hand, would be hard to portray with any real sympathy.
· In such a small group the special sympathy between the two boys was obvious to all their companions.· You are a man of special sympathy and intelligence, and I greatly respect you for it.· He had a special sympathy for the underdog, and he enjoyed hobnobbing with all and sundry.
VERB· He deserves some sympathy: how on earth could he deliver artistic goods that have the weight of his global charity work?· The national media made her a heroine, status richly deserved, and the sympathy grew even more.· She deserves sympathy in these present difficult times.· She'd led me on, I didn't think she deserved my sympathy after that.· They deserve our sympathy and help.· Drug addicts do not deserve sympathy.· One, motivated only by despair, deserves sympathy and time to absorb the full implication of last Thursday's election.
· That is why she elicits so much sympathy.· Is he a human who elicits sympathy?· The longest story is so full of pathos that the joke lines elicit only sympathy, not laughter.
· A clingy, whiny child who evokes your sympathy.· Some one suggested the Mayor of St Louis, Missouri, thinking that the consonance of names might perhaps evoke sympathy.· Messily directed by John Schlesinger, it fails to evoke admiration or sympathy for its characters.· I felt that the Zimmer frame parked alongside the court evoked a touch of sympathy.· One gets exasperated with the Chamomilla child, unlike the Pulsatilla child who most often evokes one's sympathy.
· There is no doubt that Zbo played on Modigliani's illness to excite sympathy in a way which the artist did not appreciate.· Unfaithful husbands are the norm, while unfaithful wives excite no sympathy, just blame.
· Ossis, mostly baffled by the society they thought they wanted, expect a sympathy most Wessis seem unable to muster.· At best she had expected bland sympathy from him, but the sparks shooting in his eyes were genuine.· Surely it can not expect to win sympathy for its cause.· She shouts that if I get soaked I needn't expect sympathy, and I call for her to join me.· Nomatterwhat difficulties he encounters within the system, he can expect no sympathy.
· Initially, Simpson said, King and Ryan expressed sympathy for her and vowed she could keep her job.· I, too, express my sympathy to his family and to his fiance e and her family.· He wants to express his deep sympathy to the Humphreys family.· But some staff members have at one point expressed sympathy for a Valley secession.· Mr Barter recorded a suicide verdict and expressed his sympathy to Mr Banks' family.· Every man there expressed his sympathy.· The various Nationalists had also expressed their sympathy for such a move.
· We extend sympathy to his family.· We extend our sympathy to Mrs Gladys Fisher, and to their son and daughter.· On behalf of the Society members we extend our sympathy to June's husband Bob and her two sons.· The historian does not extend his sympathy to the leaders.
· We feel sympathy for the hero who is led astray under the influence of his false friend.· Perhaps he felt sympathy towards some one struggling to hook ideas together.· You might feel sympathy with her action and offer verbal or actual support.· Rostov found it hard to feel sympathy for Grigoriev's predicament.· Many feel a lack of sympathy for such obsession.· Although we do feel sympathy for Blanche she seems to wallow in her self pity.· You are made to feel sympathy at certain points of the book and hatred at others.
· This is a chord that finds sympathy in the public choice school.· Shaun found no more sympathy when he made a quick dash to hospital.
· He just limped around gaining more sympathy from his students by hinting what a brute his wife was.· The ad gained Wellstone enough sympathy to squeak by with a 48, 000-vote margin.· I'd hoped to gain sympathy from those idiotic journalists.· It's a publicity stunt to gain sympathy.
· It offered neither tea nor sympathy.· I would offer him perfect sympathy, he would understand me the way no one else had.· It was little Tero, turned out in the same paddock, offering silent sympathy.· Unfortunately, there is always one person at these affairs who feels compelled to offer sympathy and encouragement.· But Beatrix wrote again, offering her sympathy - and her help, if we needed it.· Today she offered sympathy for the victims.· People couldn't offer her expressions of sympathy.· On behalf of the whole Society we offer our deep sympathy to Hilda and her family.
· I received nothing but sympathy and understanding from them.· He was fined $ 110, 000 and received an outpouring of sympathy at the time.· His sacking is a clear message to other officers that they will receive no sympathy for their indiscretions.
· Like Nietzsche, Feuerbach frequently shows more sympathy for orthodox believers than for rationalizing modernist theologians.· But Casper has shown sympathy for the students' cause.· People were unfailingly courteous and showed great sympathy - but throughout, all eyes were firmly on Abu Dhabi.· There were some people who might show sympathy towards the Jacobites even though they were not Jacobites themselves.· He also showed cautious sympathy for homosexuals.· However, Nottingham showed little sympathy and Pepper rubbed salt in their wounds.· Law makers, givers and enforcers should show more understanding and sympathy in the face of intolerable provocation.· Not one of the faces showed any sympathy towards him; all were determined that he should hang.
· Once again, it struck you that an actor was more likely to win sympathy from an audience than a slack-jawed garrulous Balaclava.· Initially, Peter won the sympathy of a few board members with his critique of the program s academic standards.· Surely it can not expect to win sympathy for its cause.· And he had confided in Patricia with the subconscious desire of winning from her sympathy and condolence.· Soon after taking office Reagan won much popular sympathy when he was shot and wounded in an assassination attempt.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
- It was possible, of course, that she wanted to dispense tea and sympathy, but he had his doubts.
- Who would it hurt if we let ourselves be led via tea and sympathy to booze and bed?
WORD FAMILYnounsympathysympathizeradjectivesympathetic ≠ unsympatheticverbsympathizeadverbsympathetically
1[plural, uncountable] the feeling of being sorry for someone who is in a bad situationsympathy for I have a lot of sympathy for her; she had to bring up the children on her own. I have absolutely no sympathy for students who get caught cheating in exams. Our sympathies are with the families of the victims.2[plural, uncountable] belief in or support for a plan, idea, or action, especially a political onein sympathy with something Willard is in sympathy with many Green Party issues. Her sympathies lie firmly with the Conservative Party.Communist/Republican/left-wing etc sympathies Matheson is known for his pro-socialist sympathies.sympathy with/for Sullivan expressed sympathy for the striking federal workers.3[uncountable] a feeling that you understand someone because you are similar to them: There was no personal sympathy between them.COLLOCATIONSverbshave/feel sympathy for somebody· It’s hard not to feel sympathy for the losing team.express/offer (your) sympathy· Everyone there expressed their sympathy.get sympathy from somebody· I thought at least I’d get some sympathy from you.deserve sympathy· He doesn't deserve any sympathy - it's his own fault.play on somebody’s sympathy (=make someone feel sorry for you in order to get an advantage for yourself)· If that doesn’t work, she knows how to play on his sympathy.expect sympathy· I know I can’t expect any sympathy from her!adjectivesdeep/deepest sympathy (=used when someone is upset after a death)· We'd like to offer our deepest sympathy to Hilda and her family.great sympathy· I have great sympathy for the people affected by the housing crisis.phrasesa message/letter of sympathy· We are grateful for all the messages of sympathy we have received.an expression of sympathy· I murmured an expression of sympathy.have every sympathy for somebody (=feel very sorry for someone - often used when you have had a similar experience yourself)· I have every sympathy for people who find it hard to give up smoking.you have my sympathy (=used when saying that you feel sorry for someone)· It must be difficult – you have my sympathy.extend your sympathy to somebody formal (=express sympathy)· I’d like to extend my deepest sympathy to the victim’s family.my/our sympathy goes out to somebody formal (=used to formally express sympathy)· Our sympathy goes out to Peggy in her great loss.