compassion
gb/kəmpˈæʃən/ us/kəmpˈæʃən/
B1
English
~ 4700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
state
1
Sympathy with a wish to help
A strong feeling of care for someone who is hurt or in trouble, and wanting to help them.
Usage pattern:
to feel [compassion] for [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'compassion' with 'passion'. 'Passion' means a strong enthusiasm or desire, not sympathy for suffering.
Synonyms
empathy (Focuses more on understanding another person's feelings rather than also wanting to help.)
|
sympathy (Often means feeling sorry for someone, but not always with the same urge to help.)
Antonyms
indifference (Lack of interest or concern for someone's suffering.)
|
cruelty (Deliberate causing of pain or suffering without concern.)
Collocations
show compassion
|feel compassion
|act with compassion
|lack compassion
|deep compassion
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|ethics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She felt great compassion for the victims of the disaster.
- His compassion for animals led him to become a veterinarian.
- The nurse treated every patient with warmth and compassion.
- Compassion is essential in caring professions like teaching and social work.
- The charity's work is driven by compassion for the poor.
Learner examples
- She has compassion for sick people.
- He shows compassion to his friends.
- We need compassion in our world.
- The teacher has compassion for her students.
- I feel compassion for the old man.
Grammar
Dictionary form
compassion
IPA
GB/kəmpˈæʃən/
US/kəmpˈæʃən/
Syllables & stress
com - pas - sion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pas)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: compassion
- Plural: compassion
Word family
Core family
compassionate
adjective B2
compassionately
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
uncompassionate
adjective
compassionless
adjective
Expressions
have compassion on/for [someone]
1/hˈæv kəmpˈæʃən ənfɚ sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
Feel sympathy and want to help
To feel care for someone who is hurt or in trouble and want to help them.
Examples
- We should have compassion for those less fortunate than us.
- The judge had compassion on the young offender.
out of compassion
1/ˈaʊt əv kəmpˈæʃən/
fixed phrase
Because of sympathy and care
Because you feel sorry for someone and want to help them.
Examples
- She offered him a place to stay out of compassion.
- He forgave her mistake out of compassion, not weakness.
show compassion
1/ʃˈoʊ kəmpˈæʃən/
fixed phrase
Act in a caring way toward others
To do something that lets people see you care about their problems or suffering.
Examples
- Volunteers showed compassion by helping flood victims.
- Doctors must show compassion to their patients.