empathetic
Showing an ability to understand and share others' feelings
Examples
In a meeting
“An empathetic leader can better address team concerns before they escalate.”
Over coffee
“She's so empathetic—she always knows when something's bothering me.”
Why this word
sympathetic
Empathetic implies deeply understanding and sharing another's feelings from their perspective, while sympathetic suggests merely feeling concern or pity without necessarily understanding their experience
compassionate
Empathetic emphasizes the ability to mentally and emotionally place oneself in another's situation, while compassionate focuses more on the desire to alleviate suffering without necessarily sharing the emotional experience
understanding
Empathetic specifically denotes emotional resonance and vicarious feeling, while understanding is broader and can refer to intellectual comprehension without emotional connection
Usage tip
Use to describe people or responses that demonstrate emotional intelligence. Increasingly valued in leadership and customer service contexts.
Etymology
Greek 'empatheia' (physical affection, passion) from 'em-' (in) + 'pathos' (feeling)
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Related words
apprehensive
Anxious or worried about something that may happen in the future
evoke
To bring a feeling, memory, or image into the mind
resent
To feel bitterness or indignation toward something or someone
placate
To make someone less angry or hostile through appeasement
demoralize
To cause someone to lose confidence or hope
endear
To cause to be loved or liked