1
as in benevolent
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others
a compassionate person by nature
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sympathetic
having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another
a compassionate smile made the refugees feel a little better
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to pity
to have sympathy for
a gentle soul who could compassionate even the most reprobate of scoundrels and villains
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of compassionate
Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 7 July 2025
This delightful new collection, Last Laughs, is a monument to Erwitt’s unique vision and compassionate wit, a tour de force that assembles some of the most indelible photographs from his vast archive.
—airmail.news, 5 July 2025
Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, 20 Apr. 2023
He was recognized by Duke as being a competitor on the field and compassionate off it.
—J.c. Carnahan, orlandosentinel.com, 16 Dec. 2020
See All Example Sentences for compassionate
Adjective
Marissa was a radiant, compassionate young woman with a future full of promise.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 7 July 2025
This delightful new collection, Last Laughs, is a monument to Erwitt’s unique vision and compassionate wit, a tour de force that assembles some of the most indelible photographs from his vast archive.
—airmail.news, 5 July 2025
Verb
Yet while 67% of white people who are eligible for PrEP are on it, only 8% eligible Black people are, often citing lack of access to healthcare or to compassionate healthcare.
—Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, 20 Apr. 2023
He was recognized by Duke as being a competitor on the field and compassionate off it.
—J.c. Carnahan, orlandosentinel.com, 16 Dec. 2020
See All Example Sentences for compassionate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compassionate
Adjective
-
Good starters are made up of the unique mix of benevolent dictator (someone has got to keep things moving), a maestro (there are a million different things at play; the starter gets them all to hopefully harmonize) and friend.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
10 July 2025
-
The act was sealed in a pronouncement by Princess Isabel, who became a President Lincoln-like figure in Brazil, known to many as the benevolent white liberator of the enslaved.—
Time,
Time,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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Following that and other bruising political fights, Council President Mitra Jalali — who was mostly seen as sympathetic to the mayor — resigned in March.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
25 July 2025
-
Within France, a country that has long held a sympathetic position toward the Palestinian cause, recognizing Palestinian statehood won’t be a controversial move.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
This is not a tale that asks you to pity the monster.—
Daphne Woolsoncroft,
People.com,
8 July 2025
-
This turtle is not to be mocked, and not to be pitied either.—
A.O. Scott,
New York Times,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
Over the course of two seasons, the writing of the show and the actress performing the role turned the Grim Reaper into more of a caregiver who guides human souls to the beyond with a kind smile and empathic warmth.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
31 July 2025
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But Lana was her own person: an actor, a comedian, beloved by her family and friends, a kind, talented woman who volunteered weekly for the AIDS charity Project Angel Food during the 80s, a time when many people would barely say the word AIDS aloud.—
Meg Pillow
July 31,
Literary Hub,
31 July 2025
Adjective
-
Trust-inducing language—specific, concrete language, personal pronouns to show accountability, and empathetic language—is vital for releasing dopamine and oxytocin, which are key to building rapport and demonstrating understanding of the customer’s perspective.—
Su Bridgman,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
-
Thompson is empathetic to the Goncalves family, who wanted a trial instead of a plea deal.—
Kayna Whitworth,
ABC News,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
Despite the complex emotions involved, being humane was worth the effort OD made toward her mother at the end.—
Carolyn Rosenblatt,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
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Yet at the Fortune Brainstorm AI Singapore conference on Wednesday, two experts called for a more humane and interdisciplinary approach to artificial intelligence.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
Over the course of two seasons, the writing of the show and the actress performing the role turned the Grim Reaper into more of a caregiver who guides human souls to the beyond with a kind smile and empathic warmth.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
31 July 2025
-
Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz had been tipping his slider, and the Yankees used some empathic motions to relay the pitch.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
20 July 2025
Adjective
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Firing off hundreds of identical applications and CVs is unlikely to land you that dream role, so every application needs a thoughtful approach.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
-
Before this drastic step, there should have been research on what the realities are on car ownership rates throughout the city and surveys — an inventory — of available street parking in each community, followed by thoughtful planning, followed by thorough community feedback.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
28 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compassionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compassionate. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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