Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Expressing sympathy with a person who experienced the death of a loved one: The word "condolent" describes the act or state of showing sorrow, sympathy, or compassion to someone who is grieving a loss, particularly the death of a family member or friend.

Usage

• "Condolent" is a formal adjective used to describe a person, message, gesture, or tone that conveys sympathy for another's bereavement.
• It is typically used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb like "was" or "felt").
• This word is less common in everyday speech than the related noun "condolence." Using "condolent" often lends a more literary or formal tone to the expression.

Examples

• Attributive use (before a noun):
  • She wrote a condolent letter to her friend after the funeral.
  • His condolent words provided some comfort during their time of grief.
• Predicative use (after a linking verb):
  • The community was deeply condolent upon hearing the tragic news.
  • He felt genuinely condolent but struggled to find the right words to say.

Advanced Usage

• "To be condolent": To be in a state of expressing sympathy.
  • The ambassador was publicly condolent, offering the nation's sympathies.
• "In a condolent manner": Done in a way that shows sympathy.
  • He spoke in a soft, condolent manner to the widow.

Variants and Related Words

• Condolence (n): An expression of sympathy, especially on the occasion of a death.
  • They offered their condolences to the family.
• Condole (v - archaic/rare): To express sympathetic sorrow; to grieve with.
  • Friends came to condole with her.

Synonyms

• Sympathetic: Showing that you understand and care about someone's suffering.
• Compassionate: Feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others.
• Commiseration: The expression of sympathy or sorrow for someone's misfortune.

Antonyms

• Indifferent: Having no particular interest or sympathy; unconcerned.
• Unsympathetic: Not showing sympathy or approval.

Related Phrases

• Offer condolences: To express sympathy formally.
  • Hundreds of people came to offer their condolences.
• Letter of condolence: A written message expressing sympathy.
  • She received a beautiful letter of condolence from her colleagues.

Adjective

1. expressing sympathy with a person who experienced the death of a loved one