Sympathize vs Compassion - What's the difference?
sympathize | compassion |
To show sympathy; to be affected by feelings similar to those of another, in consequence of knowing the person to be thus affected.
* Addison
To have a common feeling, as of bodily pleasure or pain.
* Buckminster
To agree; to be in accord; to harmonize.
Deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it
* 1849 , Robert Leighton (Archbishop of Glasgow), A practical commentary upon the first Epistle of St. Peter (page 47)
(obsolete) To pity.
* 1607 , , IV. i. 124:
As verbs the difference between sympathize and compassion
is that sympathize is to show sympathy; to be affected by feelings similar to those of another, in consequence of knowing the person to be thus affected while compassion is (obsolete) to pity.As a noun compassion is
deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it.sympathize
English
Verb
(North America)- Their countrymen sympathized with their heroes in all their adventures.
- The mind will sympathize so much with the anguish and debility of the body, that it will be too distracted to fix itself in meditation.
- (Dryden)
Usage notes
Used similarly to empathize, interchangeably in looser usage. In stricter usage, (term) is stronger and more intimate, while sympathize is weaker and more distant; see . Further, the general “agree, accord” sense of sympathize is not shared with (term).compassion
English
Noun
- Oh! the unspeakable privilege to have Him for our Father, who is the Father of mercies and compassions , and those not barren, fruitless pityings, for He is withal the God of all consolations.
Synonyms
* empathy, pity, ruth, tenderheartedness, sorrow * kindness, heart, mercyDerived terms
* compassionate * compassion fatigueVerb
(en verb)- O heavens, can you hear a good man groan / And not relent, or not compassion him?
