Empathy Synonym: There are various synonyms of the word Empathy. Empathy synonyms. When a friend grieves over the loss of a loved one, you might send that friend a sympathy card. Another word for empathy: understanding, feeling, appreciation, compassion, rapport | Collins English Thesaurus Another word for sympathy: compassion, understanding, pity, empathy, tenderness | Collins English Thesaurus Empathy and sympathy are two words that sound similar and have often been used interchangeably. Instead, sympathy is a concern for the well-being of another. Empathy, on the other hand, not only is an identification of sorts but also connotes and awareness of one's separateness from the observed. ), 1993, Criticism, like fiction, was an act of empathy for Ray, putting yourself in the other guy's shoes. The use of these synonyms is situational and no one synonym fits at all places. Both of the words deal with the relationship a person has to the feelings and experiences of another person. Synonyms for empathy include understanding, compassion, affinity, appreciation, rapport, sympathy, commiseration, feeling, identification and recognition. The differences aren’t just in spelling but also in how they’re used in emotional circumstances. He's making a quiz, and checking it twice... Test your knowledge of the words of the year. —Michael Trimble, The New York Times, 11 Nov. 2012. —Jay McInerney, The New York Times Book Review, 6 Aug. 1989, Sympathy and the desire to understand other people, the better to help them, are originally, I am forced to believe, virtues. A person expresses sympathy, but shares empathy. Sometimes, people even reject empathy, as Jane Bolton points out in "Stop Giving Me Empathy! Uncover definitions, examples and even test questions. However, their meanings aren’t quite the same. Empathy synonyms. ‘Sympathy’ and ‘empathy’ are two words that are often used interchangeably. What are synonyms for empathy? “College” vs. “University”: Are They Synonyms? [2] Empathy refers to the understanding and sharing of a specific emotional state with another person. —Monroe K. Spears, American Ambitions, 1987. Unlike sympathy, empathy has come to be used in a broader way than it was when it was first introduced; the term is now most often used to refer to the capacity or ability to imagine oneself in the situation of another, experiencing the emotions, ideas, or opinions of that person. Pathos itself refers to the evocation of pity or compassion in a work of art or literature. Empathy and sympathy aren’t synonyms. —Frank Kermode, The New York Times Book Review, 11 July 1993, He's the good man here, as he was in "Good Morning, Vietnam" and "Dead Poets Society," and he does a fine job of it: he shows the warmth and reticence and empathy that Dr. Sayer needs. Sympathy refers to the ability to take part in someone else’s feelings, mostly by feeling sorrowful about their misfortune. Synonyms for empathy include understanding, compassion, affinity, appreciation, rapport, sympathy, commiseration, feeling, identification and recognition. “Pagan” vs. “Wicca”: What Is The Difference? Full list of synonyms for Empathy is here. Empathy is the experience of feeling another person’s emotions or believing that one can feel the emotional energy and presence of others around them. Empathy Synonym: There are various synonyms of the word Empathy. Empathy vs. sympathy. The feeling of sympathy emerges from the recognition that another person is suffering, in contrast to empathy, where the other person's pain or suffering is felt. What’s The Difference Between Atheism And Agnosticism? —Journal of the American Medical Association, 24 May 1958. People who lack empathy were probably raised in families who were avoiding to get in touch with their feelings. 6, November 1937. Sympathy means you can understand what the person is feeling. The word empathy means the feeling of putting yourself in the shoes of someone else, while sympathy is more closely associated with the feeling of sorrow for the unfortunate experiences someone else has had. Kindness synonyms. 1.3.3 Vulnerable groups Vulnerable groups can be described as those who experience a higher risk of poverty and social exclusion than the general population. The budding artist’s happiness was short-lived when, 2 weeks after enrollment, she was diagnosed wi… Empathy and sympathy can have extremely different impacts on relationships. What are another words for Empathy? In looking at the difference between sympathy and empathy, you must first understand what they are. Another word for empathy: understanding, feeling, appreciation, compassion, rapport | Collins English Thesaurus Antonyms for sympathy. You’re trying to get inside a certain emotional reality or motivational reality and try to figure out what that’s about so you can represent it.” – Edward Norton. Another word for sympathy. Top empathy synonyms (related to sympathy) are understanding, affinity and fellow feeling. While these words are near cousins, they are not synonymous with one another. Empathy is the ability to experience the feelings of another person. Psychologists began using empathy as a translation for the German term Einfühlung and the concept that a person could project their own feelings onto a viewed object. lack of empathy for others-Empathy is an innate and a learned skill that is shaped by our own environment and life experiences. Sympathy means you can understand what the person is feeling. Antonyms for sympathy. Compassion is the willingness to relieve the suffering of another. We will use the term empathy throughout this article to mean the expression of caring concern to the distress of another with the goal of relieving their distress. For the most part, these two nouns are not used interchangeably, but often we encounter them in contexts where their nuance is diminished or perhaps not relevant, providing no obvious indication why one was chosen over the other: In order to succeed, humanitarian efforts require a "Goldilocks" solution--just the right mix of force and charity, sympathy and structure, blind will and determined follow-up. Sometimes called perspective-taking” ~ Daniel Goleman, renowned psychologist and author of the 1995 book Emotional Intelligence. Sympathy means you can understand what the person is feeling. “I’ve always liked Saturn. Sympathy refers to the feeling of pity, compassion, and sorrow for another being’s misfortune. “Hallowmas” vs. “All Saints’ Day”: What’s The Day After Halloween Actually Called? But there is a major difference between empathy and sympathy. Top sympathy synonyms (related to empathy) are understanding, consideration and agreement. What are another words for Empathy? Definition of empathy — “The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.” Until November 1995, I thought of empathy and sympathy as being synonymous words. Sympathy synonyms. So, empathy is more closely related to understanding someone’s feelings, whereas sympathy is when you share their feelings. While these words are close cousins, they are not synonymous with one another. Sandra was 14 years old when she enrolled in The School of Arts (SOTA) in Singapore to study Visual Arts. —Wilfred M. McClay, The Wilson Quarterly, Summer 2008, Given his rich familiarity with things European, it is not surprising that Mr. Lewis writes with sympathy and perceptiveness about Edith Wharton. Have you ever wondered about these lines? See more. Synonyms for sympathy in Free Thesaurus. It entered English in the mid-1500s with a very broad meaning of “agreement or harmony in qualities between things or people.” Since then, the term has come to be used in a more specific way. 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