Definition of sympathynext
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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun sympathy differ from other similar words?

The words affinity and attraction are common synonyms of sympathy. While all three words mean "the relationship existing between things or persons that are naturally or involuntarily drawn together," sympathy implies a reciprocal or natural relation between two things that are both susceptible to the same influence.

two minds in sympathy

When might affinity be a better fit than sympathy?

The meanings of affinity and sympathy largely overlap; however, affinity implies a susceptibility or predisposition on the part of the one drawn.

an affinity for mathematics

When is attraction a more appropriate choice than sympathy?

In some situations, the words attraction and sympathy are roughly equivalent. However, attraction implies the possession by one thing of a quality that pulls another to it.

felt an attraction to danger

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sympathy And, for all the theater of the hearing and Wyper’s expressions of sympathy with aldermen, the Stonepeak executive didn’t offer any meaningful concessions to make this obnoxious meter deal more palatable for Chicagoans. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026 No premature judgment and no overwrought sympathy here. Bob Wojnowski, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2026 To meet the new standards, future gun regulations that come to the court will need to have a clear historical pedigree as well as target a group for whom Americans have less sympathy, such as spousal abusers, rather than increasing affinity – pot users. Morgan Marietta, The Conversation, 26 June 2026 Other chip names, such as Sandisk, Western Digital, Lam Research, KLA and Applied Materials all rose in sympathy. Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sympathy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sympathy
Noun
  • Upon Paula’s release, Karl picks her up and is his usual confusing shamble of one part compassion and two parts boundaries.
    Erin Qualey, Vulture, 1 July 2026
  • Will Americans embrace vulnerability with compassion, or perpetuate stigma?
    Brian Castrucci, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • All of us are invited to choose to become better human beings and to show up at work and in the world with increasing love, kindness, courage and forgiveness.
    Mikhail Shneyder, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • That instinct to lean into life with curiosity, optimism, and kindness is, perhaps, America's greatest attraction.
    Divia Thani, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • The key is to partner with AI, leveraging its speed and analytical power while focusing on uniquely human skills like creativity, empathy, and critical thinking.
    William Arruda, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • The obscene pay of CEOs, growing 20 times as fast as workers’ pay last year, and the obscene wealth in the tech world, with money cascading into the hands of greedy billionaires who lack empathy or even noblesse oblige.
    Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • Their coupling instantly captured the attention and hearts of fans around the world, and Swift’s presence at Chiefs games was even credited with bolstering female interest in NFL football.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • His update on the C-cut began just below the chin, with extra lift at the roots and inward-curving lengths that narrowed toward the ends to create the illusion of a heart.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • And that’s a pity, because birthright citizenship brings many practical benefits to the United States today—arguments that the nation needs to hear, given the campaign being mounted against it.
    Amanda Frost, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
  • That is truly a pity because this brilliant thinker revolutionized both mathematics and physics.
    Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Despite its decades-long ubiquity in our lives and our iCals, the building has just as often stirred negative feelings.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026
  • And this response completely invalidates their feelings and concerns.
    Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Cite this Entry

“Sympathy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sympathy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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