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sympathetic

sym·pa·thet·ic
S s

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [sim-puh-thet-ik]
    • /ˌsɪm pəˈθɛt ɪk/
    • /ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [sim-puh-thet-ik]
    • /ˌsɪm pəˈθɛt ɪk/

Definitions of sympathetic word

  • adjective sympathetic characterized by, proceeding from, exhibiting, or feeling sympathy; sympathizing; compassionate: a sympathetic listener. 1
  • adjective sympathetic acting or affected by, of the nature of, or pertaining to a special affinity or mutual relationship; congenial: With their many similar tastes, he found her a most sympathetic companion. 1
  • adjective sympathetic looking upon with favor (often followed by to or toward): She is sympathetic to the project. 1
  • adjective sympathetic Anatomy, Physiology. pertaining to that part of the autonomic nervous system consisting of nerves that arise from the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord, and functioning in opposition to the parasympathetic system, as in stimulating heartbeat, dilating the pupil of the eye, etc. Obsolete. pertaining to the autonomic nervous system in its entirety. 1
  • adjective sympathetic Physics. noting or pertaining to vibrations, sounds, etc., produced by a body as the direct result of similar vibrations in a different body. 1
  • adjective sympathetic If you are sympathetic to someone who is in a bad situation, you are kind to them and show that you understand their feelings. 0

Information block about the term

Origin of sympathetic

First appearance:

before 1635
One of the 43% oldest English words
1635-45; < New Latin sympathēticus < Greek sympathētikós. See sym-, pathetic

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Sympathetic

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

sympathetic popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 66% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

sympathetic usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for sympathetic

adj sympathetic

  • acceptive — ready or willing to accept
  • affectionate — If you are affectionate, you show your love or fondness for another person in the way that you behave towards them.
  • all over — All over a place means in every part of it.
  • amicable — When people have an amicable relationship, they are pleasant to each other and solve their problems without quarrelling.
  • approbative — showing approbation or approval

adv sympathetic

  • adversely — unfavorable or antagonistic in purpose or effect: adverse criticism.

adjective sympathetic

  • admiring — An admiring expression shows that you like or respect someone or something.
  • amical — (now rare) Friendly, amicable.
  • appreciating — to be grateful or thankful for: They appreciated his thoughtfulness.
  • approving — An approving reaction or remark shows support for something, or satisfaction with it.
  • careful — If you are careful, you give serious attention to what you are doing, in order to avoid harm, damage, or mistakes. If you are careful to do something, you make sure that you do it.

adverb sympathetic

  • callously — made hard; hardened.
  • carelessly — If someone does something carelessly, they do it without much thought or effort.
  • coldly — having a relatively low temperature; having little or no warmth: cold water; a cold day.
  • critically — inclined to find fault or to judge with severity, often too readily.
  • disparagingly — that disparages; tending to belittle or bring reproach upon: a disparaging remark.

Antonyms for sympathetic

adj sympathetic

  • accidentally on purpose — Deliberately, though apparently accidentally.
  • algid — chilly or cold
  • aloof — Someone who is aloof is not very friendly and does not like to spend time with other people.
  • anesthetized — to render physically insensible, as by an anesthetic.
  • antarctic — The Antarctic is the area around the South Pole.

adjective sympathetic

  • against — If one thing is leaning or pressing against another, it is touching it.
  • algific — Producing cold; covered in ice.
  • anaesthetised — anesthetize.
  • anaesthetized — anesthetize.
  • casehardened — Simple past tense and past participle of caseharden.

Top questions with sympathetic

  • what is reflex sympathetic dystrophy?
  • what does sympathetic mean?
  • what is the sympathetic nervous system?
  • what is sympathetic?
  • what is sympathetic nervous system?
  • what does the sympathetic nervous system do?
  • how to be sympathetic?
  • what does the sympathetic nervous system control?
  • which is a uniquely sympathetic function?
  • sympathetic nerves may leave the spinal cord at which vertebra?
  • what is the definition of sympathetic?
  • what is a sympathetic character?
  • what is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?
  • how does the sympathetic nervous system affect the heart?
  • what is the difference between parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system?

See also

Matching words

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