sympathise
UK: ˈsɪmpəθaɪz | US: ˈsɪmpəθaɪz
vi. to feel or express sympathy or compassion for someone
vi. to agree with or support an idea, opinion, or sentiment
sympathise = sym<together> + path<feeling> + ise<verb suffix>
- sym<together>: From Greek syn-, meaning "with" or "together."
- path<feeling>: From Greek pathos, meaning "suffering" or "emotion."
- ise<verb suffix>: A verb-forming suffix, often used in British English (equivalent to -ize in American English).
Etymology Origin:
The word sympathise originates from Greek sympatheia (sym- "together" + pathos "feeling"), reflecting shared emotions or understanding. The suffix -ise was added in Late Latin (sympathizare) and later adopted into Middle French (sympathiser), eventually entering English. The term evolved to denote both emotional alignment and intellectual agreement.
She could sympathise with his struggles after experiencing similar hardships.
Many voters sympathise with the environmental policies of the new party.
It’s hard to sympathise when you’ve never faced such a dilemma.
The teacher sympathised with the student’s anxiety before the exam.
Though they disagreed, he tried to sympathise with her perspective.