compassionate 1 of 2

adjective

kəm-ˈpa-sh(ə-)nət How to pronounce compassionate (audio)
Definition of compassionatenext
1
as in benevolent
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others a compassionate person by nature

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sympathetic
having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another a compassionate smile made the refugees feel a little better

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

compassionate

2 of 2

verb

kəm-ˈpa-shə-ˌnāt How to pronounce compassionate (audio)
as in to pity
to have sympathy for a gentle soul who could compassionate even the most reprobate of scoundrels and villains

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of compassionate
Adjective
His friends in Hawaii remember him as thoughtful, kind, and compassionate. — Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 17 Aug. 2026 Post-surgery, hospital floor nurses provide continuous, compassionate care, managing recovery and educating families, transforming surgical results into functional healing. — Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
Modern Legal is not only a firm dedicated to compassionate legal advocacy but also underscores the critical role of education in empowering individuals. — Chris Gallagher, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025 Yet while 67% of white people who are eligible for PrEP are on it, only 8% eligible Black people are, often citing lack of access to healthcare or to compassionate healthcare. — Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, 20 Apr. 2023 See All Example Sentences for compassionate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compassionate
  1. benevolent
  2. sympathetic
  3. pity
  4. kind
  5. empathetic
  6. humane
  7. empathic
  8. thoughtful
Adjective
  • The new movie follows a benevolent ex-pilot named Hig (Jacob Elordi) who, after losing his wife during a catastrophic global pandemic, lives out in the wilderness with his dog, Jasper, and ornery isolationist pal Bangley (Josh Brolin).
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • City leaders agree large, unsupervised gatherings could put kids at risk even if most attendees are there for benevolent reasons.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of benevolent
Adjective
  • Pearson, the ministry president, is sympathetic to the people lining up for help.
    — Scott Horsley, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The show was considered an outlier in its generally sympathetic take on Hill and his conservative views, as well as in terms of the agency with which the show’s creators endowed its working- and middle-class characters.
    — Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of sympathetic
Verb
  • There is nothing pitying and also nothing airbrushed in the pictures—just the occasional haze of a misty morning or the blurry tremor of a burning brush pile.
    — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
  • Or, even better, don’t pity Carlson.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Definition of pity
Adjective
  • So his church—which has raised many millions of dollars for good causes, and operates a local food pantry and food truck—decided to distribute lawn signs simply encouraging people to be kind.
    — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Engler said even in her early days of stardom, Parton was always kind and pleasant.
    — Jessica Guay, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of kind
Adjective
  • Colman Domingo Domingo praised Parton’s ability to be talented and empathetic.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Focus on an actual harmful person, not the guy who everyone in Hollywood knows is hyper-intelligent, empathetic and talented.
    — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of empathetic
Adjective
  • Rio Blanco County Commissioner Callie Scritchfield, however, said captivity is more humane than allowing the horses to roam free.
    — Stina Sieg, NPR, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The organization, previously known as The Humane Society of the United States, said three former dog meat vendors made the operation possible after deciding to leave the industry and pursue more humane careers.
    — Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of humane
Adjective
  • Along those same lines, the show’s returning castmates shared which elements of Ted’s empathic ethos have become core in their own lives.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Born under the artistic water sign Pisces, symbolized by the Fish, your child is whimsical, sensitive, empathic, and imaginative.
    — Maressa Brown, Parents, 18 June 2026
Definition of empathic
Adjective
  • The angular build brings in thoughtful symmetry and lots of tabletop space to curate a varied display of coffee table books and knickknacks.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Ranjit Bawa, chief technology and ventures officer at Deloitte, also recommends giving employees autonomy to make thoughtful decisions around when to use AI.
    — Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of thoughtful

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Cite this Entry

“Compassionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compassionate. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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