sympathy
feeling sorry for someone
A feeling of care and sadness for someone who is having a bad or painful time.
feel/have/show [sympathy] for [someone]
- I have a lot of sympathy for single parents trying to manage everything alone.
- Many people felt sympathy for the students who lost their homes in the fire.
- She listened with real sympathy as he talked about losing his job.
- Public sympathy quickly turned to anger when the truth came out.
- He showed no sympathy for people who were late, no matter the reason.
- I feel sympathy for her because she is very sick.
- They showed sympathy for the family after the accident.
- My teacher had sympathy for me when I was very stressed.
- He has no sympathy for people who are rude.
- We all felt sympathy for the players who lost the game.
expressed condolences or support
Things you say, write, or do to show you are sorry that someone has had a death or other very sad event.
offer/send/express [sympathy] to [someone]
- Please accept my deepest sympathy on the loss of your father.
- Friends and colleagues sent messages of sympathy after the accident.
- She called to express her sympathy and offer any help we might need.
- The company issued a statement of sympathy to the victims' families.
- He wrote a short note of sympathy to his neighbor after hearing the news.
- I sent a card to show my sympathy after her mother died.
- Our teacher gave her sympathy when her pet passed away.
- Please accept our sympathy at this very sad time.
- They visited the family to offer their sympathy.
- Many people sent emails of sympathy to him.
support or approval for a cause
When you support or agree with a group, idea, or cause.
sympathy for [a cause] / in sympathy with [a group or aim]
- There is growing sympathy for the nurses' demand for higher pay.
- Most of the media expressed sympathy with the protesters.
- Public sympathy shifted away from the union after the long strike.
- She has little sympathy for political movements that use violence.
- The party lost sympathy among young voters after the scandal.
- Many students feel sympathy for the workers on strike.
- The newspaper showed sympathy for the new law.
- He has no sympathy for that political group.
- Public sympathy is with the victims of the war.
- The group gained sympathy after the TV interview.
ability to understand feelings
When you can understand how another person feels and feel close to them.
have/feel [sympathy] with [someone or their feelings]
- She has a real sympathy with teenagers and understands their worries.
- There was an immediate sympathy between the two writers.
- His novels show deep sympathy with ordinary people's lives.
- I feel a strong sympathy with what you're going through.
- A lack of sympathy from managers can damage trust at work.
- My doctor showed great sympathy with my fears.
- I feel sympathy with people who move to a new country.
- There was a natural sympathy between the two friends.
- Her books show real sympathy with poor families.
- He has no sympathy with their way of thinking.
parallel change between things
When one thing changes in a similar way because another thing changes, often at the same time.
move/fall/rise [in sympathy with] [something]
- Tech stocks fell in sympathy with the broader market.
- Oil prices rose in sympathy with growing tensions in the region.
- The company's bonds moved in sympathy with its shares.
- Regional currencies weakened in sympathy with the euro.
- Her mood seemed to darken in sympathy with the gray weather outside.
- House prices fell in sympathy with the weaker economy.
- The value of the currency rose in sympathy with higher oil prices.
- Their sales dropped in sympathy with the whole industry.
- The small shop closed in sympathy with the workers on strike.
- Share prices moved in sympathy with news from the US.
harmony or good match
When two things go well together or match each other in a good way.
be [in sympathy with] [something]
- The new building is in sympathy with the historic city center.
- The music was chosen in sympathy with the calm mood of the exhibition.
- Her gentle movements were in sympathy with the slow rhythm of the song.
- The colors of the room are in sympathy with the natural light.
- The design tries to work in sympathy with the local landscape.
- The modern house is not in sympathy with the old street.
- The blue walls are in sympathy with the soft light.
- His dance was in sympathy with the quiet music.
- The park was planned in sympathy with the river.
- The artist chose colors in sympathy with nature.
- Base: sympathy
- Plural: sympathies, sympathy
express sympathy
1say you feel sorry for someone
To say or show that you are sorry that someone has pain, trouble, or a loss.
- Friends came by to express sympathy after the accident.
- The president expressed sympathy to the families of the victims.
- I called her to express my sympathy and offer help.
feel sympathy for
1experience sympathy toward someone
To experience the feeling of being sorry for someone and caring about their problem.
- I feel sympathy for anyone who has to commute two hours every day.
- Many people felt sympathy for the victims of the flood.
- We all felt sympathy for him when we heard his story.
have sympathy for
1feel pity and concern for
To feel sorry for someone and care about their problems or pain.
- I really have sympathy for people who work night shifts.
- She has no sympathy for students who do not do their homework.
- Most voters have sympathy for families struggling to pay rent.
in sympathy with
1agreeing with or changing like
To agree with something or someone, or to change in a similar way to something else.
- Many teachers went on strike in sympathy with the nurses.
- Share prices fell in sympathy with the wider market.
- The new building was designed in sympathy with the old town center.
my deepest sympathies
1formal plural condolences phrase
A formal way to say you are very sorry about someone's loss, using the plural form 'sympathies'.
- My deepest sympathies go out to you and your children.
- We extend our deepest sympathies to all the families involved.
- She wrote, "My deepest sympathies" at the end of the card.
my deepest sympathy
1very strong condolence phrase
A polite and serious way to say you are very sorry about someone's loss, often when someone has died.
- Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss.
- On behalf of the team, I’d like to offer my deepest sympathy.
- We send our deepest sympathy to you and your family at this sad time.
offer sympathy
1give condolences or support
To say kind words or do something kind to show you are sorry for someone's bad situation.
- Neighbors came to offer sympathy and support.
- She offered her sympathy to the families who had lost their homes.
- We would like to offer our sympathy to everyone affected.
out of sympathy with
1not agreeing or in harmony with
To not agree with or support a person, group, or idea anymore.
- Many voters are now out of sympathy with the government’s policies.
- She felt increasingly out of sympathy with the direction of the project.
- He resigned because he was out of sympathy with the company’s values.
public sympathy
1general public's sympathy
The feelings of most people in a country or area about a group, event, or cause, usually pity or support.
- Public sympathy was clearly with the victims of the disaster.
- The strike lost public sympathy after several weeks.
- The campaign aims to win public sympathy for climate refugees.
show sympathy
1demonstrate that you are sympathetic
To act or speak in a way that lets someone see you are sorry about their problems and that you care.
- She showed real sympathy when I told her about my worries.
- Doctors are encouraged to show sympathy but also to stay professional.
- He tried to show sympathy, but his words sounded cold.
win sympathy
1gain people's sympathy
To make people start to feel sorry for you or support you.
- The emotional speech helped win sympathy for the refugees.
- He tried to win sympathy by talking about his difficult childhood.
- The government failed to win sympathy for the new tax plan.
with deepest sympathy
1condolence letter closing
A polite way to end a card or letter when you want to say you are very sorry about someone's loss.
- With deepest sympathy, Sarah and Mark.
- The card ended with the simple words, "With deepest sympathy."
- He signed the letter, "With deepest sympathy, John Parker."