sym ‧ pa ‧ thy W3 /ˈsɪmpəθi/ BrE AmE noun ( plural sympathies )
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ sympathy , ↑ sympathizer ; verb : ↑ sympathize ; adverb : ↑ sympathetically ; adjective : ↑ sympathetic ≠ ↑ unsympathetic ]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: sympathia , from Greek sympatheia , from sympathes 'sharing feelings, sympathetic' , from syn- ( ⇨ ↑ syn- ) + pathos 'feelings' ]
1 . [plural, uncountable] the feeling of being sorry for someone who is in a bad situation
sympathy for
I have a lot of sympathy for her; she had to bring up the children on her own.
I have absolutely no sympathy for students who get caught cheating in exams.
Our sympathies are with the families of the victims.
2 . [plural, uncountable] belief in or support for a plan, idea, or action, especially a political one
in sympathy with something
Willard is in sympathy with many Green Party issues.
Her sympathies lie firmly with the Conservative Party.
Communist/Republican/left-wing etc sympathies
Matheson is known for his pro-socialist sympathies.
sympathy with/for
Sullivan expressed sympathy for the striking federal workers.
3 . [uncountable] a feeling that you understand someone because you are similar to them:
There was no personal sympathy between them.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have/feel sympathy for somebody
It’s hard not to feel sympathy for the losing team.
▪ express/offer (your) sympathy
Everyone there expressed their sympathy.
▪ get sympathy from somebody
I thought at least I’d get some sympathy from you.
▪ deserve sympathy
He doesn't deserve any sympathy - it's his own fault.
▪ play on sb’s sympathy (=make someone feel sorry for you in order to get an advantage for yourself)
If that doesn’t work, she knows how to play on his sympathy.
▪ expect sympathy
I know I can’t expect any sympathy from her!
■ adjectives
▪ deep/deepest sympathy (=used when someone is upset after a death)
We'd like to offer our deepest sympathy to Hilda and her family.
▪ great sympathy
I have great sympathy for the people affected by the housing crisis.
■ phrases
▪ a message/letter of sympathy
We are grateful for all the messages of sympathy we have received.
▪ an expression of sympathy
I murmured an expression of sympathy.
▪ have every sympathy for somebody (=feel very sorry for someone - often used when you have had a similar experience yourself)
I have every sympathy for people who find it hard to give up smoking.
▪ you have my sympathy (=used when saying that you feel sorry for someone)
It must be difficult – you have my sympathy.
▪ extend your sympathy to somebody formal (=express sympathy)
I’d like to extend my deepest sympathy to the victim’s family.
▪ my/our sympathy goes out to somebody formal (=used to formally express sympathy)
Our sympathy goes out to Peggy in her great loss.