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Glite Dictionary
to empathize

to empathize

48 4.9
To understand and share another person's feelings by imagining what they feel
  • verb
  • /ˈɛmpəˌθaɪz/
  • US
translation icon : empatizar con
  • She tries to empathize with her patients by understanding their feelings and experiences.
  • empathize with others
  • sympathize and empathize
  • able to empathize

I mean, nobody can empathize with insult and put downs.

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Examples

  • The older I get, the more I empathize with youth making mistakes.

  • But I do empathize with your problem.

    Catch.44 (2011)

  • But when you talk to them, did you empathize with them or did you push back?

  • I always have to find a way in to empathize with how they got there.

    W Magazine

  • Can we empathize with someone who just wants to die?

  • Why is it so hard for you to empathize with Black people?

    American Skin (2019)

  • I empathize with your father.

    Universal Soldier: Regeneration (2010)

  • So I can only empathize from that perspective.

    Jay Shetty Podcast

  • You just want some support, someone to just empathize with what you've been through.

    DoctorRamani

  • - I empathize with your plight.

    Fletch (1985)

Synonyms

to sympathize
vsto empathize
96 3.5

To feel or show care and understanding for someone who is unhappy

focuses more on inwardly sharing and feeling another's experience
to sympathize with
vsto empathize
44 3.4

To feel sorry for someone and understand their pain

covers understanding and sharing all feelings, not only sorrow
to feel your pain
vsto empathize
20 6.8

To understand when someone is having a hard time and show you care

is broader, sharing various feelings and experiences beyond hardship
to commiserate
vsto empathize
15 7.0

To feel or show sympathy for someone who is suffering

involves truly sharing their feelings, not only offering sympathy
to put oneself in someone's shoes
vsto empathize
5 3.7

Imagine being in another person's situation to understand their feelings

goes further by actually sharing and feeling those experiences
to be in someone's shoes
vsto empathize
  • Informal
2 4.2

To imagine being in another person's situation to understand how they feel

also involves actually feeling and sharing that person's emotions
to feel someone's pain
vsto empathize
1 5.5

To understand and share someone's sadness when they are having a hard time

understands and shares feelings generally, not only deep suffering
to walk a mile in someone's shoes
vsto empathize
  • Informal
4.9

Imagine being the other person to understand their feelings and situation

adds sharing of feelings rather than only imagining the situation
to step into someone's shoes
vsto empathize
  • Informal
4.9

To imagine how someone else feels and sees things

extends this by sharing and feeling the other's emotions
to stand in someone's shoes
vsto empathize
3.9

Imagine yourself in another person's situation to understand how they feel

moves beyond imagination to actually share and feel those emotions

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

to disregard
119 3.9

Ignore something or someone on purpose

How Empathic

to empathize
  • US
48 4.9
to sympathize
96 3.5
to acknowledge
286 3.9
to ignore
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

empathize infinitive
empathized past
empathized past participle
empathizing present participle
empathizes third person singular

Morphology

empathize = empathy (transparent) = empathy + ize

Formed by the productive verb-forming suffix '-ize' on the noun 'empathy', yielding the expected sense 'to show/feel empathy'.

Etymology

Empathize comes from Greek parts em- meaning 'in' and pathos meaning 'feeling' or 'suffering'. So, to empathize is to 'feel in' another person's situation and to understand and share their feelings by imagining yourself in their place.