empathize

verb

Definition of empathizenext
as in to sympathize
to have the same feelings as another person; to feel empathy for someone
—often + with He learned to empathize with the poor.

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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 empathize Clark, 46, wished others who were laid off by ESPN on Tuesday well, empathizing with those who lost their jobs. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026 Similarly, when the brand initially announced the return of the Frappuccino on Instagram on June 2, one commenter empathized with baristas. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026 Like, reading this book, young high-school students who could really empathize, see themselves in it, which is important to high-school students in a real, visceral way. — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 Designing an experience that would allow audiences to genuinely empathize with the characters after watching the film was absolutely essential to the project. — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for empathize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for empathize
sympathize
Verb
  • But while Alice might sympathize with Catherine, Nora doesn’t.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Former Manhattan prosecutor Rebecca Roiphe told NBC News that during jury selection, prosecutors will likely want to scrutinize potential jurors’ experiences in the healthcare system to weed out those who might sympathize with Mangione.
    — Adam Reiss, NBC news, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of sympathize

Browse Nearby Words

empathic
empathize
empathized
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Cite this Entry

“Empathize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empathize. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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