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
Muslim students and those who sympathize with the Palestinian cause reported being called terrorists, having their kaffiyehs ripped off and even being threatened with rape, according to the survey.
—
Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2024
Biden's remarks walked the delicate line the Biden administration is attempting to navigate; between its staunch support for Israel and facing the reality young Americans are more likely to sympathize with Palestinians.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAY, 7 May 2024
Overall, 21 percent of those aged 18 to 29 sympathized equally with both Israelis and Palestinians, compared with 33 percent who felt more sympathy for Palestinians and 14 percent for Israelis.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 3 May 2024
Republican Irish nationalists, campaigning to split from the UK, generally sympathized with Palestinians.
—Eoin McSweeney, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
The poll showed that 17 percent of white voters and 27 percent of Hispanic voters sympathized more with Palestinians.
—Clyde McGrady, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024
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
Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2024
Biden's remarks walked the delicate line the Biden administration is attempting to navigate; between its staunch support for Israel and facing the reality young Americans are more likely to sympathize with Palestinians.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAY, 7 May 2024
Overall, 21 percent of those aged 18 to 29 sympathized equally with both Israelis and Palestinians, compared with 33 percent who felt more sympathy for Palestinians and 14 percent for Israelis.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 3 May 2024
Republican Irish nationalists, campaigning to split from the UK, generally sympathized with Palestinians.
—Eoin McSweeney, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
The poll showed that 17 percent of white voters and 27 percent of Hispanic voters sympathized more with Palestinians.
—Clyde McGrady, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024
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
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 May. 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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