sympathetic

[ sim-puh-thet-ik ]
/ ˌsɪm pəˈθɛt ɪk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR sympathetic ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

characterized by, proceeding from, exhibiting, or feeling sympathy; sympathizing; compassionate: a sympathetic listener.
acting or affected by, of the nature of, or pertaining to a special affinity or mutual relationship; congenial: With their many similar tastes, he found her a most sympathetic companion.
looking upon with favor (often followed by to or toward): She is sympathetic to the project.
Anatomy, Physiology.
  1. pertaining to that part of the autonomic nervous system consisting of nerves that arise from the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord, and functioning in opposition to the parasympathetic system, as in stimulating heartbeat, dilating the pupil of the eye, etc.
  2. Obsolete. pertaining to the autonomic nervous system in its entirety.
Physics. noting or pertaining to vibrations, sounds, etc., produced by a body as the direct result of similar vibrations in a different body.

Origin of sympathetic

1635–45; < New Latin sympathēticus < Greek sympathētikós. See sym-, pathetic

SYNONYMS FOR sympathetic

1 commiserating, kind, tender, affectionate.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR sympathetic ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM sympathetic

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH sympathetic

empathetic sympathetic simpatico

Words nearby sympathetic

symonds, symons, sympath-, sympathectomy, sympathetectomy, sympathetic, sympathetic amine, sympathetic contact, sympathetic ganglia, sympathetic imbalance, sympathetic ink

Words related to sympathetic

affectionate, warm, compassionate, sensitive, thoughtful, interested, responsive, supportive, loving, caring, open-minded, receptive, amenable, encouraging, appreciative, benign, considerate, kind, kindhearted, kindly

Example sentences from the Web for sympathetic

British Dictionary definitions for sympathetic

sympathetic
/ (ˌsɪmpəˈθɛtɪk) /

adjective

characterized by, feeling, or showing sympathy; understanding
in accord with the subject's personality or mood; congenial a sympathetic atmosphere
(when postpositive, often foll by to or towards) showing agreement (with) or favour (towards) sympathetic to the proposals
anatomy physiol of or relating to the division of the autonomic nervous system that acts in opposition to the parasympathetic system accelerating the heartbeat, dilating the bronchi, inhibiting the smooth muscles of the digestive tract, etc Compare parasympathetic
relating to vibrations occurring as a result of similar vibrations in a neighbouring body sympathetic strings on a sitar

Derived forms of sympathetic

sympathetically, adverb

Medical definitions for sympathetic

sympathetic
[ sĭm′pə-thĕt′ĭk ]

adj.

Of, relating to, or acting on the sympathetic nervous system.