sympathetic (ˌsɪmpəˈθɛtɪk
)
Definitions
adjective
- characterized by, feeling, or showing sympathy; understanding
- in accord with the subject's personality or mood; congenial ⇒
a sympathetic atmosphere
- postpositive, often foll by to or towards showing agreement (with) or favour (towards) ⇒
sympathetic to the proposals
- anatomy physiology of or relating to the division of the autonomic nervous system that acts in opposition to the parasympathetic system accelerating the heartbeat, dilating the bronchi, inhibiting the smooth muscles of the digestive tract, etc Compare parasympathetic
- relating to vibrations occurring as a result of similar vibrations in a neighbouring body ⇒
sympathetic strings on a sitar
Alternative Forms
ˌsympaˈthetically adverbSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
caring,
kind,
understanding,
concerned,
feeling,
interested,
kindly,
warm,
tender,
pitying,
supportive,
responsive,
affectionate,
compassionate,
commiserating,
warm-hearted,
condoling,
=
supportive,
encouraging,
pro,
approving of,
friendly to in sympathy with well-disposed towards favourably disposed towards
Translations
- British English:
sympathetic
If you are sympathetic to someone who has had a misfortune, you are kind to them and show that you understand how they are feeling.She was very sympathetic to the problems of students.ˌsɪmpəˈθɛtɪk ADJECTIVE She was very sympathetic to the problems of students.
- Spanish:
comprensivo
adj comprensiva
- French:
compréhensif
adj
- German:
mitfühlend
adj
- Chinese: 同情的 adj
- Arabic: مُتَعَاطِف adj
- Portuguese: solidário adj solidária
- Russian: сочувствующий adj сочувствующая
- Croatian: simpatetičan adj simpatetična
- Czech: chápající adj
- Danish: medfølende adj
- Dutch: sympathiek adj
- Finnish: myötätuntoinen adj
- Greek: συμπονετικός adj συμπονετική
- Italian: comprensivo adj comprensiva
- Japanese: 同情的な no_posp
- Korean: 동정적인 adj
- Norwegian: sympatisk adj
- Polish: pełen współczucia adj pełna współczucia
- Brazilian Portuguese: solidário adj solidária
- European Spanish:
comprensivo
adj comprensiva
- Swedish: sympatisk ajd sympatiskt
- Thai: เห็นอกเห็นใจ adj
- Turkish: anlayışlı adj
- Vietnamese: thông cảm adj
Usage examples
The plan was that the discharge of the mine would detonate the two grenades by sympathetic explosion.
, A Daystar of Fear (1994)The public reaction to specific cases, like that of the Hashmis, has largely been sympathetic.
Spiked (2003)The seven years spent in exile in the B. C. Interior was a topic rarely discussed, despite sympathetic reporters.
Globe and Mail (2003)I feel sympathetic to the royal family - one should always sympathise with people with learning difficulties.
Glasgow Herald (2001)The conductor of the premiere, Claudio Abbado, was also sympathetic to leftist politics.
, A TALE OF FOUR HOUSES: Opera at Covent Garden, La Scala, Vienna and the Met since 1945 (2003)