empathetic

adjective

ˌem-pə-ˈthe-tik How to pronounce empathetic (audio)
Definition of empatheticnext
as in compassionate
having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another an empathetic social worker who soon realized that the single mother was at her breaking point

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 empathetic Identify the repeatable tasks where AI can free up human capacity for higher-judgment, more empathetic work. — Jackie Njoroge, Forbes.com, 15 Oct. 2026 Despite these uncertainties, many women continue to relax their hair, but Belmo emphasizes an empathetic, practical harm-reduction approach. — Ata-Owaji Victor, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2026 A lot of Tumblr, a lot of Wikipedia, a lot of following a bunch of cool feminists online, and also being curious and empathetic at the end of the day. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026 Ishibashi makes for a resilient and empathetic Junna, even as her character inevitably bears the brunt of much of the film’s divisive moralizing, while Emoto’s Morio is a quivering wreck of fragility and good intentions. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for empathetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for empathetic
  1. compassionate
  2. sympathetic
Adjective
  • Others discussed overcoming the initial awkwardness of the work and finding satisfaction in helping doctors become more competent and compassionate.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • At the same time, the lawsuits contend that chatbots are pretending to be agreeable and compassionate while preying on the vulnerable and on teenagers, the first generation to grow up with artificial intelligence.
    — Marc Levy, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of compassionate
Adjective
  • Amy Adams’s Chrissie is more sympathetic and less interesting.
    — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The investment in Sasha and Morgan has almost outgrown that of Joanne and Noah, and Lupe is sympathetic to the cause.
    — Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of sympathetic

Browse Nearby Words

emotions
empathetic
empathic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Empathetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empathetic. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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