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Webster 1913 Edition

Sympathize

Sym′pa-thize

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Sympathized
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Sympathizing
.]
[F.
sympathiser
. See
Sympathy
.]
1.
To have a common feeling, as of bodily pleasure or pain.
The mind will
sympathize
so much with the anguish and debility of the body, that it will be too distracted to fix itself in meditation.
Buckminster.
2.
To feel in consequence of what another feels; to be affected by feelings similar to those of another, in consequence of knowing the person to be thus affected.
Their countrymen . . .
sympathized
with their heroes in all their adventures.
Addison.
3.
To agree; to be in accord; to harmonize.
Dryden.

Sym′pa-thize

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To experience together.
[Obs.]
“This sympathized . . . error.”
Shak.
2.
To ansew to; to correspond to.
[Obs.]
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition

Sympathize

SYM'PATHIZE

, v.i.
1.
To have a common feeling, as of bodily pleasure or pain.
The mind will sympathize so much with the anguish and debility of the body, that it will be too distracted to fix itself in meditation.
2.
To feel in consequence of what another feels; to be affected by feelings similar to those of another, in consequence of knowing the person to be thus affected. We sympathize with our friends in distress; we fell some pain when we see them pained, or when we are informed of their distresses, even at a distance.
[It is generally and properly used of suffering or pain, and not of pleasure or joy. It may be sometimes used with greater latitude.
3.
To agree; to fit. [Not in use.]

Definition 2024

sympathize

sympathize

See also: sympathise

English

Alternative forms

Verb

sympathize ‎(third-person singular simple present sympathizes, present participle sympathizing, simple past and past participle sympathized) (Canada, US)

  1. To show sympathy; to be affected by feelings similar to those of another, in consequence of knowing the person to be thus affected.
    • Addison
      Their countrymen […] sympathized with their heroes in all their adventures.
  2. To have a common feeling, as of bodily pleasure or pain.
    • Buckminster
      The mind will sympathize so much with the anguish and debility of the body, that it will be too distracted to fix itself in meditation.
  3. To agree; to be in accord; to harmonize.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Dryden to this entry?)

Usage notes

Used similarly to empathize, interchangeably in looser usage. In stricter usage, empathize is stronger and more intimate, while sympathize is weaker and more distant; see empathy: usage notes.

Further, the general “agree, accord” sense of sympathize is not shared with empathize.

Translations

Etymology

French sympathiser

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