Link Centre Dictionary

sympathetic

sym·pat·he·tic

UK/ˌsɪm.pəˈθɛt.ɪk/ US/ˌsɪmpʌˈθɛtɪk/ fairly common

adjective

1.

of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system

  • “sympathetic neurons”
  • “sympathetic stimulation”
2.

expressing or feeling or resulting from sympathy or compassion or friendly fellow feelings; disposed toward

  • “sympathetic to the students”
  • “;”
  • “;”
Antonyms
Similar
3.

having similar disposition and tastes

  • “a compatible married couple”
  • “with their many similar tastes, he found her a most sympathetic companion”
Synonyms
Similar
4.

showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity

  • “was charitable in his opinions of others”
  • “kindly criticism”
  • “a kindly act”
  • “sympathetic words”
  • “a large-hearted mentor”
Synonyms
Similar
5.

(of characters in literature or drama) evoking empathic or sympathetic feelings

  • “the sympathetic characters in the play”
Synonyms
Antonyms
6.

relating to vibrations that occur as a result of vibrations in a nearby body

  • “sympathetic vibration”
Synonyms
Similar

Origin

Mid 17th century in the sense “relating to an affinity or paranormal influence”, from Latin sympathēticus. By surface analysis, sympathy + -etic (“pertaining to”); compare pathetic. Displaced native Old English efnþrōwiende.

Phrases

  • reflex sympathetic dystrophy
  • sympathetic chain
  • sympathetic detonation
  • sympathetic hyperactivity
  • sympathetic ink
  • sympathetic magic
  • sympathetic nervous system
  • sympathetic powder

Related words

Word family

See also

Pertaining to

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.