If you are sympathetic to someone who is in a bad situation, you are kind to them and show that you understand their feelings.
She was very sympathetic to the problems of adult students. [+ to]
It may be that he sees you only as a sympathetic friend.
Synonyms: caring, kind, understanding, concerned More Synonyms of sympathetic
sympathetically (sɪmpəθetɪkli)adverb [ADVERB with verb]
She nodded sympathetically.
Synonyms: feelingly, kindly, understandingly, warmly More Synonyms of sympathetic
2. adjective
If you are sympatheticto a proposal or action, you approve of it and are willing to support it.
She met people in London who were sympathetic to her cause. [+ to]
His speeches against corruption may find a sympathetic hearing among voters.
sympatheticallyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
After a year we will sympathetically consider an application for reinstatement.
3. adjective
You describe someone as sympathetic when you like them and approve of the way that they behave.
She sounds a most sympathetic character.
Synonyms: like-minded, compatible, agreeable, friendly More Synonyms of sympathetic
More Synonyms of sympathetic
sympathetic in British English
(ˌsɪmpəˈθɛtɪk)
adjective
1.
characterized by, feeling, or showing sympathy; understanding
2.
in accord with the subject's personality or mood; congenial
a sympathetic atmosphere
3. (whenpostpositive, often foll by to or towards)
showing agreement (with) or favour (towards)
sympathetic to the proposals
4. anatomy, physiology
of or relating to the division of the autonomic nervous system that acts in opposition to the parasympathetic system accelerating the heartbeat, dilating the bronchi, inhibiting the smooth muscles of the digestive tract, etc
Compare parasympathetic
5.
relating to vibrations occurring as a result of similar vibrations in a neighbouring body
sympathetic strings on a sitar
Derived forms
sympathetically (ˌsympaˈthetically)
adverb
sympathetic in American English
(ˌsɪmpəˈθɛtɪk)
adjective
1.
of, expressing, resulting from, feeling, or showing sympathy; sympathizing
2.
in agreement with one's tastes, mood, feelings, disposition, etc.; congenial
3.
showing favor, approval, or agreement
to be sympathetic to a plan
4. Physiology
designating or of that part of the autonomic nervous system whose nerves originate in the lumbar and thoracic regions of the spinal cord and that is especially concerned with mediating the involuntary response to alarm, as by speeding the heart rate, raising the blood pressure, and dilating the pupils of the eyes: these nerves oppose the parasympathetic nerves in the regulation of many body processes
5. Physics and Acoustics
designating or of vibrations, sounds, etc. caused by other vibrations of the sameperiod transmitted from a neighboring vibrating body
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈtender
Derived forms
sympathetically (ˌsympaˈthetically)
adverb
Word origin
ModL sympatheticus < Gr sympatheia, sympathy, infl. by Gr pathētikos, pathetic
Examples of 'sympathetic' in a sentence
sympathetic
We found that people are generally sympathetic if they understand that your business is worth supporting.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Your being responsible may make them sympathetic.
The Sun (2010)
We have our sympathetic characters doing unsympathetic things and vice versa.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
To have an understanding and sympathetic woman caring about me was wonderful.
The Sun (2016)
He has an incisive but sympathetic way with him.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Lots of people are only too pleased to find a sympathetic ear.
The Sun (2009)
The new lead has to be a sympathetic character.
The Sun (2009)
She said she wished my uncle was more understanding and sympathetic like me.
The Sun (2013)
Call on the relative and friend you find most sympathetic and ask for help.
The Sun (2012)
Olive is not an easily liked or sympathetic character who courts or flatters the audience.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
My mum is a sufferer and was completely sympathetic and understanding.
The Sun (2012)
It was right to put in place people broadly sympathetic to the views of the government they were serving.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Over the past five years the two princes have been portrayed as sympathetic people with similar interests to the rest of us.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The sympathetic nervous system uses it, when we are subjected to stress.
Shreeve, Dr Caroline M Lower Your Blood Pressure in 4 Easy Stages (1989)
The application is being submitted today, and it deserves a sympathetic hearing.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She may feel sympathetic but she won't be critical.
The Sun (2011)
Consequently, they do not get a sympathetic hearing.
Joanna Blythman Bad Food Britain (2006)
At least the company's worsening outlook should encourage a sympathetic hearing from the regulator.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Some people were sympathetic to them, some were just afraid.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I am sympathetic in one way.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
If the brain tells the nervous system that it has to cope with excessive demand, the sympathetic nervous system switches into overdrive.
Vera Peiffer POSITIVE THINKING: Everything you have always known about positive thinking but wereafraid to put into practice (2001)
Many more Tory MPs are understood to be sympathetic and may abstain.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We need to be responsive, not only to patients' medical needs but to be able handle them in a sympathetic and receptive way.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
sympathetic
British English: sympathetic /ˌsɪmpəˈθɛtɪk/ ADJECTIVE
If you are sympathetic to someone who has had a misfortune, you are kind to them and show that you understand how they are feeling.
She was very sympathetic to the problems of students.
American English: sympathetic
Arabic: مُتَعَاطِف
Brazilian Portuguese: solidário
Chinese: 同情的
Croatian: simpatetičan
Czech: chápající
Danish: medfølende
Dutch: sympathiek
European Spanish: comprensivo
Finnish: myötätuntoinen
French: compréhensif sympathique
German: mitfühlend
Greek: συμπονετικός
Italian: comprensivo
Japanese: 同情的な
Korean: 동정적인
Norwegian: sympatisk
Polish: pełen współczucia
European Portuguese: solidário
Romanian: înțelegător
Russian: сочувствующий
Latin American Spanish: comprensivo
Swedish: sympatisk
Thai: เห็นอกเห็นใจ
Turkish: anlayışlı
Ukrainian: співчутливий
Vietnamese: thông cảm
All related terms of 'sympathetic'
sympathetic ink
→ invisible ink
sympathetic magic
a type of magic in which it is sought to produce a large-scale effect, often at a distance, by performing some small-scale ceremony resembling it, such as the pouring of water on an altar to induce rainfall
sympathetic strike
a strike organized in support of another section of workers or a cause and not because of direct grievances
sympathetic character
The characters in a film, book, or play are the people that it is about.
sympathy strike
a strike organized in support of another section of workers or a cause and not because of direct grievances