Meaning of sympathetic in English

Table of contents

Classifying Adjective
sympathetic
Definitions
1. having similar disposition and tastes
Examples
- « a compatible married couple »
- « with their many similar tastes, he found her a most sympathetic companion »
Synonyms
- congenial
- agreeable
2. showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
Examples
- « was charitable in his opinions of others »
- « kindly criticism »
- « a kindly act »
- « sympathetic words »
- « a large-hearted mentor »
Synonyms
- kind
3. relating to vibrations that occur as a result of vibrations in a nearby body
Examples
- « sympathetic vibration »
Synonyms
- harmonious
Qualitative Adjective
sympathetic
Etymology
mid 17th century (in the sense ‘relating to an affinity or paranormal influence’, as in sympathetic magic): from sympathy, on the pattern of pathetic
Definitions
1. of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system
Examples
- « sympathetic neurons »
- « sympathetic stimulation »
2. expressing or feeling or resulting from sympathy or compassion or friendly fellow feelings
Examples
- « disposed toward »
- « sympathetic to the students' cause »
- « a sympathetic observer »
- « a sympathetic gesture »
Synonyms
Antonyms
- unsympathetic
3. (of characters in literature or drama) evoking empathic or sympathetic feelings
Examples
- « the sympathetic characters in the play »
Antonyms

Famous quotes

« I thought that would be kind of cool, to make a bad guy look sympathetic. »
Christopher Atkins
« Modern science, then, so far from being an enemy of romance, is seen on every hand to be its sympathetic and resourceful friend, its swift and irresistible helper in its serious need, and an indulgent minister to its lighter fancies. »
Richard Le Gallienne
« How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these. »
George Washington Carver
« One must never assume that a character is sympathetic because of either the actor playing them or the fact that they're a lead. I think that's a recipe for failure, actually, because if they become unsympathetic, you lose your audience. »
Melissa Rosenberg
« There will be, I think, an attempt to grasp again the surprise and accidents of nature and a more intimate and sympathetic study of its moods, together with a renewed wonder and humility on the part of such as are still capable of these basic reactions. »
Edward Hopper