sympathetic
/,simpə'θətik/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Feeling or showing sympathy, compassion, or understanding: Describes a person who shares or understands the feelings of another, often resulting in kindness or support.
- Favorable, agreeable, or approving: Describes being in harmony with or supportive of a person, idea, or cause.
- Relating to the sympathetic nervous system: Pertaining to the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions and the "fight or flight" response.
- (Physics) Relating to resonance: Describing vibrations that occur in one body as a result of vibrations in a nearby body.
Usage and Examples
- Showing understanding or compassion:
- She gave me a sympathetic smile when I told her my problem.
- He was very sympathetic to the plight of the refugees.
- Being in agreement or favor:
- The manager is sympathetic to our proposal for flexible hours.
- I found her to be a sympathetic listener.
- (Physiology) Relating to the nervous system:
- The drug affects the sympathetic nerves, increasing heart rate.
- (Physics) Relating to resonance:
- The tuning fork produced a sympathetic vibration in the glass.
Advanced Usage
- "Sympathetic character": A character in a story with whom the audience is meant to identify and feel compassion for.
- Despite his flaws, the protagonist is a deeply sympathetic character.
- "Sympathetic magic": A type of magic based on the principle that things that have been in contact can influence each other, or that like produces like. (Note: This is a compound term listed here as advanced usage).
- The ritual was an example of sympathetic magic, using a doll to represent the person.
Variants and Related Words
- Sympathetically (adverb): In a sympathetic manner.
- She listened sympathetically to his story.
- Sympathy (noun): The feeling of being sorry for someone's suffering; understanding between people.
- I have great sympathy for their loss.
- Unsympathetic (adjective): Not showing or feeling sympathy; not agreeable.
- He was unsympathetic to our requests.
Synonyms
- Compassionate: Feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others.
- Understanding: Sympathetically aware of other people's feelings.
- Supportive: Providing encouragement or emotional help.
- Congenial: Pleasant or agreeable because of a similarity to oneself.
Antonyms
- Unsympathetic: Not sympathetic.
- Apathetic: Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
- Indifferent: Having no particular interest or sympathy; unconcerned.
- Callous: Showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- A sympathetic ear: Willingness to listen to someone's problems with compassion.
- Thank you for lending a sympathetic ear.
- Sympathetic to a cause: In favor of or supportive of a particular aim or principle.
- Many politicians are sympathetic to the environmental cause.
Adjective
- relating to vibrations that occur as a result of vibrations in a nearby body
- sympathetic vibration
- having similar disposition and tastes
- with their many similar tastes, he found her a most sympathetic companion
- (of characters in literature or drama) evoking empathic or sympathetic feelings
- the sympathetic characters in the play
- showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
- was charitable in his opinions of others
- kindly criticism
- a kindly act
- sympathetic words
- a large-hearted mentor
- expressing or feeling or resulting from sympathy or compassion or friendly fellow feelings; disposed toward
- sympathetic to the students' cause
- a sympathetic observer
- a sympathetic gesture
- of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system
- sympathetic neurons
- sympathetic stimulation