condolent

9.9

To show sympathy to someone who has lost a loved one

adjective
/kənˈdoʊlənt/

Archaic

: condoliente

His condolent words brought comfort to the grieving family.

Examples

The condolent tone of her letter brought comfort to the grieving family.
She gave a condolent smile at the funeral.
A condolent friend attended the funeral to offer his support.
His words were delicately condolent, acknowledging their profound loss.
His words were delicately condolent, acknowledging their profound loss.
The condolent tone of her letter brought comfort to the grieving family.
A condolent friend attended the funeral to offer his support.

Synonyms

commiserative

vscondolent

1 7.9

Showing sympathy to someone who feels sad or has trouble

is specific to sympathy after losing a loved one

Antonyms

unconcerned

16 3.9

Not worried or showing little interest

How Sympathetic

consoling

5 3.4

condolent

Archaic

9.9

comforting

126 1.4

sympathetic

187 3.4

Surface Forms

condolent positive

Morphology

condolent = condole (transparent) = condole + ent

The adjective is a regular adjectival formation from the verb 'condole' meaning 'express sympathy', so the meaning is directly derived.

Etymology

The word condolent comes from Latin parts con- 'with' and dolere 'to feel pain', so it literally means 'feeling with someone'. That's why condolent describes a person or words that show sympathy when someone has died.