compassionate
1 of 2adjective
com·pas·sion·ate kəm-ˈpa-sh(ə-)nət 
1
: having or showing compassion : sympathetic
a compassionate friend
a compassionate smile
2
: granted because of unusual distressing circumstances affecting an individual —used of some military privileges (such as leave)
The soldier was granted compassionate leave following the death of his father.
compassionately adverb
compassionateness noun
compassionate
2 of 2verb
com·pas·sion·ate kəm-ˈpa-shə-ˌnāt
compassionated; compassionating
transitive verb
: pity
… even compassionating those who hold in bondage their fellow men …
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
Synonyms
Adjective
- beneficent
- benevolent
- benignant
- good-hearted
- humane
- kind
- kindhearted
- kindly
- softhearted
- sympathetic
- tender
- tenderhearted
- warmhearted
Verb
- ache (for)
- bleed (for)
- commiserate (with)
- condole (with)
- feel (for)
- pity
- sympathize (with)
- yearn (over)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective a compassionate person by nature a compassionate smile made the refugees feel a little better Verb a gentle soul who could compassionate even the most reprobate of scoundrels and villains
Recent Examples on the Web Peniel E. Joseph, CNN, 6 Sep. 2022 Played by Blanchett, the Lady of Lothlórien is compassionate, extremely powerful and unfathomably old, having lived thousands upon thousands of years. Sydney Odman, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2022 Nori Reed, who created the character of Nikki, has given Joel the opportunity to play a role that is not just another tragic storyline, but instead someone who is funny, compassionate, and undeniably human. Olivia Zayas Ryan, refinery29.com, 3 Aug. 2022 Frederic Nicolas Thiebaud has been a true gift to me as a compassionate, understanding friend and over time, an amazing love has blossomed from this precious friendship. Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 30 July 2022 Tony was a beautiful soul — kind, compassionate, funny and humble. Nick Romano, EW.com, 26 July 2022 Frederic Nicolas Thiebaud has been a true gift to me as a compassionate, understanding friend and over time, an amazing love has blossomed from this precious friendship. Hollee Actman Becker, PEOPLE.com, 26 July 2022 To Batra, nurturing a strong, compassionate, and value-based culture is even more critical than a well-performing stock price. Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 3 May 2022 Gregarious and seemingly inexhaustible, González, known for his trademark long gray ponytail, was especially strong and compassionate in crisis situations, both covering the news and tirelessly organizing help when colleagues were ill or injured. John Rice, ajc, 22 Nov. 2021 J.c. Carnahan, orlandosentinel.com, 16 Dec. 2020 At age 49, the Juilliard graduate, who can easily transform from menacing mob boss to compassionate father with a mere expression change, is having the kind of year an actor can only dream about. Nicole Sperling, HWD, 12 Dec. 2017 See More
Adjective
This latest reconstruction period offers the profound opportunity to begin to shape a new more compassionate, ethical and morally redemptive story of America. Peniel E. Joseph, CNN, 6 Sep. 2022 Played by Blanchett, the Lady of Lothlórien is compassionate, extremely powerful and unfathomably old, having lived thousands upon thousands of years. Sydney Odman, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2022 Nori Reed, who created the character of Nikki, has given Joel the opportunity to play a role that is not just another tragic storyline, but instead someone who is funny, compassionate, and undeniably human. Olivia Zayas Ryan, refinery29.com, 3 Aug. 2022 Frederic Nicolas Thiebaud has been a true gift to me as a compassionate, understanding friend and over time, an amazing love has blossomed from this precious friendship. Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 30 July 2022 Tony was a beautiful soul — kind, compassionate, funny and humble. Nick Romano, EW.com, 26 July 2022 Frederic Nicolas Thiebaud has been a true gift to me as a compassionate, understanding friend and over time, an amazing love has blossomed from this precious friendship. Hollee Actman Becker, PEOPLE.com, 26 July 2022 To Batra, nurturing a strong, compassionate, and value-based culture is even more critical than a well-performing stock price. Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 3 May 2022 Gregarious and seemingly inexhaustible, González, known for his trademark long gray ponytail, was especially strong and compassionate in crisis situations, both covering the news and tirelessly organizing help when colleagues were ill or injured. John Rice, ajc, 22 Nov. 2021 Verb
He was recognized by Duke as being a competitor on the field and compassionate off it. J.c. Carnahan, orlandosentinel.com, 16 Dec. 2020 At age 49, the Juilliard graduate, who can easily transform from menacing mob boss to compassionate father with a mere expression change, is having the kind of year an actor can only dream about. Nicole Sperling, HWD, 12 Dec. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
see compassion
Verb
see compassion
First Known Use
Adjective
1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1592, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing compassionate
Kids Definition
compassionate
adjective
com·pas·sion·ate kəm-ˈpa-shə-nət
: having or showing pity for and desire to help someone
compassionate 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in benevolent
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others a compassionate person by nature Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- benevolent
- kind
- humane
- sympathetic
- thoughtful
- gentle
- gracious
- merciful
- friendly
- kindhearted
- warmhearted
- generous
- kindly
- tenderhearted
- attentive
- beneficent
- good-hearted
- sweet
- humanitarian
- nice
- softhearted
- benignant
- patient
- tender
- considerate
- good
- pleasant
- warm
- solicitous
- affable
- selfless
- charitable
- benign
- tolerant
- pitying
- forgiving
- noble
- unselfish
- soft
- altruistic
- understanding
- liberal
- magnanimous
- companionable
- genial
- mild
- forbearing
- lenient
- neighborly
- amicable
- good-natured
- cordial
- good-tempered
- philanthropic
- openhearted
- comradely
- clement
- unsparing
- munificent
- brotherly
- philanthropical
- cruelty-free
- greathearted
- freehanded
- anticruelty
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cruel
- callous
- heartless
- brutal
- unsympathetic
- vicious
- ruthless
- sadistic
- savage
- unkind
- inhuman
- unfeeling
- inhumane
- barbaric
- pitiless
- uncompassionate
- bestial
- merciless
- brutish
- barbarous
- truculent
- brute
- atrocious
- insensate
- insensitive
- uncaring
- fiendish
- thoughtless
- unkindly
- hard-hearted
- tough
- stern
- severe
- wanton
- unsentimental
- unthinking
- harsh
- cold-blooded
- inconsiderate
- grim
- hateful
- malignant
- spiteful
- malevolent
- malicious
- virulent
- ironhearted
- mean
- nasty
- stonyhearted
- malign
- uncharitable
- heavy-handed
- hard-boiled
- antihumanitarian
2
as in sympathetic
having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another a compassionate smile made the refugees feel a little better Synonyms & Similar Words
- sympathetic
- empathetic
- empathic
- humane
- understanding
- gentle
- loving
- affectionate
- benevolent
- merciful
- commiserative
- warm
- gracious
- kind
- perceptive
- kindhearted
- charitable
- magnanimous
- friendly
- considerate
- softhearted
- kindly
- feeling
- warmhearted
- sensitive
- tenderhearted
- tolerant
- bighearted
- lenient
- pitying
- benignant
- congenial
- good-natured
- clement
- good-tempered
- tender
- largehearted
- cordial
- well-disposed
- genial
- ruthful
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- callous
- heartless
- unsympathetic
- unfeeling
- inhumane
- inhuman
- insensitive
- hard
- obdurate
- thoughtless
- uncaring
- indifferent
- aloof
- ruthless
- unthinking
- coldhearted
- insensate
- inconsiderate
- cool
- hard-hearted
- uninterested
- unfriendly
- pitiless
- cold-blooded
- merciless
- unloving
- bigoted
- brutal
- stern
- tough
- unaffectionate
- harsh
- hostile
- severe
- blinkered
- hateful
- unrelenting
- grim
- oppressive
- ungentle
- abusive
- spiteful
- malevolent
- unkind
- malicious
- virulent
- surly
- rough
- disagreeable
- narrow-minded
- mean
- hard-bitten
- acrimonious
- small-minded
- rancorous
- hard-boiled
- ill-tempered
- ill-natured
compassionate
2 of 2verb
as in to pity
to have sympathy for a gentle soul who could compassionate even the most reprobate of scoundrels and villains Synonyms & Similar Words
- pity
- love
- bleed (for)
- condole (with)
- understand
- commiserate (with)
- sympathize (with)
- feel (for)
- tolerate
- ache (for)
- yearn (over)
- sorrow (for)
- grieve (for)
- empathize (with)
- care (for)
- identify (with)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disregard
- ignore
- hate
- neglect
- overlook
- dislike
- scorn