sympathetically

S1Y4M3P3A1T1H4E1T1I1C3A1L1L1Y4
UK/sɪmpəˈθɛtɪk(ə)li/

adverb

Owing to or showing evidence of sympathy, or affinity; happening through or demonstrating correspondences, whether occult or physiological.

UncommonScrabble 30

Meanings

adverbsympathetically (comparative more sympathetically, superlative most sympathetically)

comparative more sympathetically · superlative most sympathetically

  1. Owing to or showing evidence of sympathy, or affinity; happening through or demonstrating correspondences, whether occult or physiological.

    I feel sure that here before me were assembled those, in whose unhealing hearts the sight of those bleak tablets sympathetically caused the old wounds to bleed afresh.

    1851 November 14, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC
  2. In a manner which demonstrates a sharing in the feelings of others; compassionately.

    Still she didn't stir, so he patted her shoulder and added sympathetically, 'Come now, don't take it so much to heart.'

    1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 90

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbin a sympathetic manner

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Translations

Ancient Greek συμπαθῶς
  • συμπαθῶς (sumpathôs)demonstrating a sharing in the feelings of others
Finnish myötätuntoisesti
  • myötätuntoisestidemonstrating a sharing in the feelings of others
French sympathiquement
  • sympathiquementdemonstrating a sharing in the feelings of others
Cite this entry
APA

sympathetically. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sympathetically

MLA

“sympathetically.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sympathetically. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sympathetically,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sympathetically.

Source: sympathetically on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.