sympathize
verb
sym·pa·thize
ˈsim-pə-ˌthīz 
sympathized; sympathizing
1
: to be in keeping, accord, or harmony
2
: to react or respond in sympathy
3
: to share in suffering or grief : commiserate
sympathize with a friend in trouble
also
: to express such sympathy
4
: to be in sympathy intellectually
sympathize with a proposal
sympathizer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of sympathize in a Sentence
I sympathize but how can I help?
Recent Examples on the Web
Silverstein said Surfrider sympathizes with affected businesses but stressed that there are many new replacement products for foam that might actually save them money.
—
David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
For those who more naturally sympathize with the Israeli mother than the Gazan hiding from the bombs, these responses exist across that chasm Chen describes, one that empathy alone is incapable of bridging.
—Phil Klay, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024
In fact, Smith, a theater actor himself, sympathizes with the experience of the production’s cast and crew.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024
Nationally, about three in ten Americans believe, or at least sympathize with, ideas that claim the U.S. is a Christian nation and that the country's laws should draw from Christian values.
—Lisa Hagen, NPR, 28 Feb. 2024
Although Pathological: The Lies of Joran van der Sloot examines a murder’s successful efforts to con the media, Cassel says his documentary doesn’t sympathize with him, and instead exposes van der Sloot’s corrupt behavior, while paying tribute to the victim’s families.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024
The signs of change most watched – and fretted over – include Russia’s ability to ramp up its war production to meet battlefield needs in a grueling war, and the expanding wave of repression of anyone who disparages Russia’s war effort or appears to sympathize with the enemy.
—Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb. 2024
The red and white are the Crossland colors and represented those who sympathized with the Confederacy.
—Olivia Munson, The Courier-Journal, 5 Jan. 2024
Bureaucracy and people who sympathize with Russians after full-scale invasion.
—Nastya Platinova, SPIN, 21 Feb. 2024
David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
For those who more naturally sympathize with the Israeli mother than the Gazan hiding from the bombs, these responses exist across that chasm Chen describes, one that empathy alone is incapable of bridging.
—Phil Klay, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024
In fact, Smith, a theater actor himself, sympathizes with the experience of the production’s cast and crew.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024
Nationally, about three in ten Americans believe, or at least sympathize with, ideas that claim the U.S. is a Christian nation and that the country's laws should draw from Christian values.
—Lisa Hagen, NPR, 28 Feb. 2024
Although Pathological: The Lies of Joran van der Sloot examines a murder’s successful efforts to con the media, Cassel says his documentary doesn’t sympathize with him, and instead exposes van der Sloot’s corrupt behavior, while paying tribute to the victim’s families.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024
The signs of change most watched – and fretted over – include Russia’s ability to ramp up its war production to meet battlefield needs in a grueling war, and the expanding wave of repression of anyone who disparages Russia’s war effort or appears to sympathize with the enemy.
—Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb. 2024
The red and white are the Crossland colors and represented those who sympathized with the Confederacy.
—Olivia Munson, The Courier-Journal, 5 Jan. 2024
Bureaucracy and people who sympathize with Russians after full-scale invasion.
—Nastya Platinova, SPIN, 21 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sympathize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sympathize
Cite this Entry
“Sympathize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sympathize. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sympathize
verb
sym·pa·thize
ˈsim-pə-ˌthīz
sympathized; sympathizing
1
: to share in suffering or grief : to feel or show sympathy
2
: to be in favor of something
sympathizer
noun
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