compassionate
showing kindness to suffering people
Feeling and showing care for someone who is sad, sick, or in trouble, and wanting to help them.
[someone] is compassionate (toward [someone])
- She is known as a compassionate doctor who always takes time to listen to her patients.
- The judge made a compassionate decision and gave the young man a second chance.
- We need more compassionate policies that protect the most vulnerable people in our communities.
- He wrote a compassionate letter to the family after hearing about their loss.
- Volunteers offered compassionate support to refugees arriving at the border.
- The nurse was very compassionate and tried to comfort the sick child.
- My boss was compassionate when my mother was in the hospital.
- People want a leader who is strong but also compassionate.
- Her words were honest but compassionate, not unkind.
- He is always compassionate toward animals that are hurt.
to feel pity for someone
To feel sad for someone because they suffer and to care about their pain.
to compassionate [someone]
- He was compassionated by all who heard his sad story.
- The saints were said to compassionate the suffering of the poor.
- She could not but compassionate the children left without parents.
- In this old story, the king does not compassionate the weak.
- The writer asks the reader to compassionate the lonely hero.
- This verb "to compassionate" is old and is not used in modern speech.
- Base: compassionate
compassionate leave
1paid leave for family emergency
Time away from work that your employer gives you, usually paid, when a close family member dies or is very sick, or when you have a serious personal problem.
- The company granted him three days of compassionate leave after his father's death.
- Employees can apply for compassionate leave in cases of serious family emergencies.
- She took compassionate leave to care for her critically ill mother.
compassionate release
1early prison release for hardship
When a government or prison lets a prisoner leave jail earlier than normal because the prisoner is very sick or in another extreme situation.
- He was granted compassionate release after doctors confirmed he had only months to live.
- Activists called for the compassionate release of elderly inmates during the health crisis.
- The court refused to approve compassionate release, saying the legal conditions were not met.
compassionate use
1access to experimental treatment
A special medical rule that lets very sick patients use new drugs or treatments that are not fully approved yet, when no other treatment can help them.
- The new drug was made available under a compassionate use program for terminal patients.
- Doctors applied for compassionate use so their patient could receive the experimental therapy.
- Regulators tightened the rules on compassionate use to protect patient safety.
on compassionate grounds
1for reasons of hardship or suffering
For a reason connected to someone's serious suffering or very difficult situation, used especially in official or legal decisions.
- The prisoner was released early on compassionate grounds because of his terminal illness.
- Her visa application was approved on compassionate grounds after officials reviewed her case.
- The school made an exception on compassionate grounds and allowed him to submit the work late.