sympathetic
gb/sˌɪmpəθˈɛtɪk/ us/sˌɪmpəθˈɛtɪk/
B1
Inglés
~ 5100
együttérző, megértő, támogató, rokonszenvező, rokonszenves, szerethető, szimpatikus, tapintatos, kíméletes, együttrezgés, együttrezgő
B1
1
együttérző
B2
megértő
B1
Patrón de uso:
[someone] is sympathetic (to/towards [someone])
My manager was very sympathetic when I explained why I had missed the deadline.
A vezetőm nagyon megértő volt, amikor elmagyaráztam, miért nem tudtam tartani a határidőt.
She’s always sympathetic and ready to listen when her friends are going through a hard time.
Mindig együttérző, és kész meghallgatni a barátait, amikor nehéz időszakon mennek keresztül.
The doctor was sympathetic but honest about the seriousness of the illness.
Neighbors were deeply sympathetic after the family lost their home in the fire.
He tried to be sympathetic, but he didn’t really understand how scared I was.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
My teacher was sympathetic when I was sick.
A tanárom megértő volt, amikor beteg voltam.
She is a sympathetic friend who listens to my problems.
Együttérző barát, aki meghallgatja a problémáimat.
The nurse was kind and sympathetic to the old man.
He was not very sympathetic when I lost my job.
I need a sympathetic person to talk to tonight.
Error frecuente:
Learners often confuse "sympathetic" with "empathetic". In everyday English, "sympathetic" is more common and means you care about someone’s problems; "empathetic" focuses on sharing or strongly understanding their feelings. Speakers of some languages also wrongly use "sympathetic" to mean simply "nice" or "friendly"; in English, it usually implies reacting to someone’s trouble or difficulty. Preposition choice can also be a problem: we normally say "sympathetic to/towards someone", not "sympathetic with someone" in this sense.
Significado
showing care for someone's troubles
Colocaciones
deeply sympathetic
|sympathetic listener
|sympathetic parent
|sympathetic ear
|sympathetic response
Sinónimos
understanding (Stresses mentally grasping and accepting someone’s feelings or situation.)
|
compassionate (Emphasizes warm concern and a wish to help those who are suffering.)
|
supportive (Highlights giving emotional help or encouragement, not just feeling sorry.)
Antónimos
unsympathetic (Direct opposite; not showing care or understanding for someone’s problems.)
|
indifferent (Suggests not caring at all, with no emotional reaction to the other person’s situation.)
Temas
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definición
Feeling or showing that you care when someone has a problem or is sad.
Feeling or showing that you understand and care about another person's problems, worries, or suffering.
B2
2
támogató
B1
Patrón de uso:
[someone] is sympathetic to [a cause/idea/group]
The committee was generally sympathetic to the union’s demands.
A bizottság általában támogatóan viszonyult a szakszervezet követeléseihez.
Voters in the region are often sympathetic to environmental campaigns.
A térség szavazói gyakran támogatóan viszonyulnak a környezetvédelmi kampányokhoz.
Although she was personally sympathetic to the proposal, she had to vote against it.
The judge seemed sympathetic to the young offender’s difficult background.
We need journalists who are sympathetic to our message, not trying to attack it.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
Many students were sympathetic to the protest.
Sok diák rokonszenvezett a tiltakozással.
The manager was not sympathetic to their request for more time.
A vezető nem támogatta azt a kérésüket, hogy több időt kapjanak.
He is sympathetic to green politics.
They hope the new mayor will be sympathetic to small businesses.
The crowd was sympathetic to the speaker’s ideas.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes mix this sense with the personal-emotional sense and say things like "He is sympathetic" when they only mean "He supports this idea". To show support for an idea or group, it is clearer to say "sympathetic to the idea/cause/group". Also avoid saying "sympathetic with" in this sense; the usual pattern is "sympathetic to".
Significado
supporting an idea or group
Colocaciones
sympathetic to their demands
|sympathetic audience
|sympathetic judge
|politically sympathetic
|sympathetic government
Sinónimos
supportive (Stresses actively helping or backing a person, group, or idea.)
|
favorable (More formal; stresses a positive attitude or judgment toward something.)
Antónimos
hostile (Shows strong opposition or active dislike, the opposite of being sympathetic to a cause.)
Temas
politics
|opinions
|society
|relationships
|communication
Definición
Liking and supporting an idea, plan, or group, usually because you understand why it is important.
Showing support or approval for a particular idea, plan, cause, or group, often because you understand its reasons.
B2
3
Patrón de uso:
a sympathetic [character/figure/portrayal]
The film works because the main character is so sympathetic, even when he makes bad decisions.
A film azért működik, mert a főszereplő annyira rokonszenves, még akkor is, amikor rossz döntéseket hoz.
The author manages to make a very flawed man into a sympathetic figure.
A szerzőnek sikerül egy nagyon gyarló férfit is rokonszenves figurává tennie.
Despite her crimes, the series presents her as a surprisingly sympathetic character.
It’s hard to feel sympathetic toward any of the characters in that play.
Critics praised the movie’s sensitive and sympathetic portrayal of the refugees.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The hero in the book is a very sympathetic character.
A könyv hőse nagyon rokonszenves szereplő.
The writer makes the thief a sympathetic person.
Az író rokonszenves figurává teszi a tolvajt.
I did not find the main character sympathetic at all.
He is a weak but sympathetic figure in the story.
The movie shows the poor family in a sympathetic way.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes think "sympathetic character" just means "a nice character". In reviews, it usually means a character the audience can understand and feel for, even if the character does bad things.
Significado
easy to like or pity (character)
Colocaciones
sympathetic character
|sympathetic hero
|sympathetic figure
|sympathetic portrayal
|deeply sympathetic character
Sinónimos
likable (Focuses on being pleasant and easy to like, not necessarily on causing pity.)
|
relatable (Informal; suggests that people can easily see themselves in the character’s situation.)
Antónimos
unsympathetic (Describes a character who is hard to like or feel pity for.)
Temas
art
|media
|emotions
|arts_entertainment
Definición
Describes a person in a story or in real life who people quickly like and feel sorry for when bad things happen.
Describes a character, person, or figure in a story, film, or situation who is easy for people to like or feel sympathy for.
B2
4
Patrón de uso:
sympathetic [treatment/approach/environment/tone]
The dentist’s sympathetic manner helped calm nervous patients.
A fogorvos tapintatos bánásmódja segített megnyugtatni az ideges pácienseket.
New employees need a sympathetic environment where they can ask questions without feeling stupid.
Az új munkatársaknak olyan megértő környezetre van szükségük, ahol kérdezhetnek anélkül, hogy butának éreznék magukat.
The journalist’s sympathetic interview allowed the victim to tell her story at her own pace.
The charity offers sympathetic advice to people in serious debt.
We appreciated the bank’s sympathetic approach when we explained our financial problems.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The doctor used a sympathetic tone when he gave the bad news.
Az orvos tapintatos hangon közölte a rossz hírt.
The school created a more sympathetic environment for students with problems.
Az iskola megértőbb környezetet teremtett a problémákkal küzdő diákok számára.
She asked the questions in a soft, sympathetic way.
I need a more sympathetic boss who understands my family situation.
The teacher’s sympathetic treatment helped the shy child speak in class.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use "sympathetic" only for people. It can also describe actions, treatment, or situations that show kindness, like "sympathetic environment" or "sympathetic policies".
Significado
gentle and considerate in approach
Colocaciones
sympathetic treatment
|sympathetic environment
|sympathetic interviewer
|sympathetic lighting
|sympathetic tone
Sinónimos
gentle (Stresses being soft and not harsh, especially in behavior or treatment.)
|
considerate (Highlights thinking carefully about how your actions affect someone’s feelings.)
Antónimos
harsh (Describes treatment or conditions that are rough, strict, or lacking in kindness.)
Temas
emotions
|work
|health
|relationships
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definición
Describes the way someone acts, speaks, or treats you that is soft, gentle, and kind because they think about your feelings.
Describes actions, treatment, conditions, or environments that are gentle and considerate of a person’s feelings or needs.
C1
TECHNICAL
5
együttrezgés
C1
együttrezgő
C1
Patrón de uso:
sympathetic [vibration/resonance/string]
The bridge collapsed due to sympathetic vibration caused by the wind.
A híd a szél keltette együttrezgés miatt omlott össze.
In some instruments, extra strings are added purely for sympathetic resonance.
Egyes hangszerekben extra húrokat kizárólag az együttrezgés miatt helyeznek el.
Engineers had to redesign the structure to reduce sympathetic oscillations from passing trains.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The glass broke because of sympathetic vibration from the loud music.
Az üveg a hangos zene keltette együttrezgés miatt tört el.
Sympathetic strings make the sound of the instrument richer.
Az együttrezgő húrok gazdagabbá teszik a hangszer hangzását.
We studied sympathetic resonance in physics class.
Error frecuente:
This technical sense is often unknown to general learners. Do not confuse "sympathetic vibration" with emotional sympathy; here it is about physical movement, not feelings.
Significado
vibrating because of another vibration
Colocaciones
sympathetic vibration
|sympathetic resonance
|sympathetic string
|sympathetic oscillation
Sinónimos
resonant (Technical; refers more generally to responding strongly at a particular frequency, not only to being driven by another object.)
Antónimos
non-resonant (Technical; describes systems that do not respond with noticeable vibration at the given frequency.)
Temas
science
|physics
|music
Definición
Describes a thing that starts to vibrate because another thing near it is vibrating, not because you touch it.
Of an object or part: vibrating because of the vibration of another object at the same or a related frequency, without direct contact.
C1
TECHNICAL
6
szimpatikus
C1
Patrón de uso:
sympathetic [nervous system/nerve/activation/response]
During acute stress, the sympathetic nervous system increases heart rate and blood pressure.
Akut stressz során a szimpatikus idegrendszer növeli a szívfrekvenciát és a vérnyomást.
These drugs block sympathetic nerve activity and help lower blood pressure.
Ezek a gyógyszerek gátolják a szimpatikus idegi aktivitást, és segítenek csökkenteni a vérnyomást.
The study measured changes in sympathetic and parasympathetic responses during exercise.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The sympathetic nervous system prepares your body for danger.
A szimpatikus idegrendszer felkészíti a szervezetedet a veszélyre.
When you are scared, your sympathetic nerves make your heart beat faster.
Amikor megijedsz, a szimpatikus idegek hatására gyorsabban ver a szíved.
Doctors study the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems in medical school.
Error frecuente:
Learners may wrongly link this medical sense to emotional sympathy. In phrases like "sympathetic nervous system", the word is technical and does not refer to feelings.
Significado
relating to sympathetic nervous system
Colocaciones
sympathetic nervous system
|sympathetic nerve
|sympathetic activation
|sympathetic response
Sinónimos
adrenergic (Technical; often used for activity mediated by adrenaline, closely related to sympathetic responses.)
Antónimos
parasympathetic (Refers to the other main part of the autonomic nervous system, which calms the body and conserves energy.)
Temas
science
|medicine
|biology
|health
|body
Definición
About the part of your nerves that makes your body ready for action or danger, for example by making your heart beat faster.
Relating to or involving the part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for activity or stress, increasing heart rate, breathing, and energy release.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
sympathetic
AFI
GB/sˌɪmpəθˈɛtɪk/
US/sˌɪmpəθˈɛtɪk/
Sílabas y acento
sym - path - et - ic (4 sílabas)
Stress on 3rd syllable (et)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: sympathetic
Familia de palabras
Core family
Related words
sympathizer
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unsympathetic
adjective
unsympathetically
adverb
Expresiones
a sympathetic ear
1/ə sˌɪmpəθˈɛtɪk ˈɪɹ/
idiom
a kind, understanding listener
Someone who listens to your problems with kindness and understanding.
Ejemplos
- If you ever need a sympathetic ear, just call me.
- After the breakup, she found a sympathetic ear in her older sister.
- The counselor offered a sympathetic ear to students who were struggling.
a sympathetic figure
1/ə sˌɪmpəθˈɛtɪk fˈɪɡjɚ/
fixed phrase
person others easily pity or like
A person, often in the news or in a story, who other people can easily understand and feel sorry for.
Ejemplos
- The media presented him as a sympathetic figure who had been treated unfairly.
- She became a sympathetic figure in the press after the scandal.
- The documentary turns the politician into a more sympathetic figure.
a sympathetic portrayal
1/ə sˌɪmpəθˈɛtɪk pɔɹtɹˈeɪəl/
fixed phrase
kind and understanding depiction
A way of showing a person in a book, film, or article that makes people understand and feel for them.
Ejemplos
- The film is a sympathetic portrayal of life in a poor neighborhood.
- Some critics felt it was too sympathetic a portrayal of the dictator.
- The biography offers a very sympathetic portrayal of its subject.
be sympathetic to
1/bˈi sˌɪmpəθˈɛtɪk tə/
fixed phrase
feel or show sympathy for
To understand and care about a person, idea, or group and show support or kindness toward them.
Ejemplos
- The teacher was sympathetic to the children who had trouble with the test.
- Many voters are sympathetic to the aims of the campaign.
- I’m sympathetic to your situation, but I can’t change the company policy.
sympathetic character
1/sˌɪmpəθˈɛtɪk kˈɛɹɪktɚ/
fixed phrase
story person easy to like or pity
A person in a book, film, or play who the audience easily likes and feels sorry for.
Ejemplos
- The film lacks a truly sympathetic character for the audience to care about.
- She creates a complex but sympathetic character who grows over the course of the novel.
- Even the villain is written as a surprisingly sympathetic character.
sympathetic nervous system
1/sˌɪmpəθˈɛtɪk nˈɚvəs sˈɪstəm/
fixed phrase
technical
part of nerves for stress response
The part of your body’s nerve system that makes you ready for action or danger, for example by making your heart beat faster.
Ejemplos
- The sympathetic nervous system is activated when you feel fear or excitement.
- Caffeine can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and increase alertness.
- They measured how the sympathetic nervous system responded during intense exercise.
sympathetic vibration
1/sˌɪmpəθˈɛtɪk vaɪbɹˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
vibration caused by nearby vibration
When one object starts to vibrate because another object near it is vibrating at a matching frequency, without being touched.
Ejemplos
- The singer’s high note caused a sympathetic vibration in the window glass.
- In physics, we studied sympathetic vibration using tuning forks.
- The piano’s unused strings produced a faint sympathetic vibration.