empathy Definition
em·pa·thy (em′pə t̸hē)
noun
- the projection of one's own personality into the personality of another in order to understand the person better; ability to share in another's emotions, thoughts, or feelings
- the projection of one's own personality into an object, with the attribution to the object of one's own emotions, responses, etc.
Etymology: < Gr empatheia, affection, passion < en-, in + pathos, feeling: used to transl. Ger einfühlung (< ein-, in + fühlung, feeling)
empathy Synonyms
empathy Usage Examples
Converse of object
- evoke: Hislop evokes real empathy for her characters ' battles with the ' curse ' of leprosy.
- feel: Hopper invites us to feel empathy with the woman in her isolation.
- demonstrate: In order to be considered trustworthy, you must be able to demonstrate empathy.
- develop: In business, you develop empathy simply by putting your customer first.
- express: Programs like " Food Not Bombs " do not express empathy, they express pity.
- show: The empathy shown by Emma Darwin, who had lost a daughter ten years earlier, formed a lasting bond between the two women.
Adjective modifier
- imaginative: Heller's surprising ability to get into the mind of a middle-aged spinster also illustrates her strong talent for imaginative empathy.
- genuine: He seems to have a genuine empathy with the part.
- emotional: First, children need to develop emotional empathy for the creatures of the natural world.
- deep: On a personal level there is difficulty in expressing deep emotions, but they can have deep empathy for others.
- natural: He saw us clear, rooted us in natural empathy.
- great: No, there was no great empathy despite the skilled writing.
Modifies a noun
skill: Literacy costumes can develop role play and empathy skills.
Noun used with modifier
- victim: A report by a probation officer of 18 August 2000 indicates that " Darren has a clear sense of victim empathy.
- show: To be a good listener and show empathy with the individual's situation.
Preposition: with
- character: He can make you feel great empathy with a lonely character who may or may not be a pedophile.
- people: I thought empathy with young people should be at the top of the list, along with guidance.
- child: It is a story which clearly illustrates the author's empathy with small children.
- other: True communication calls for some shared life experiences and empathy with others.
Preposition: for
character: For the second time in recent memory I found myself with a lack of empathy for the characters.
Browse dictionary entries near empathy
- ‹ empathize
- ‹ empathic
- ‹ empathetic
- ‹ empanel
- ‹ empanada
- ‹ empale
- ‹ Emp
- ‹ emotive
- ‹ emotionalize
- ‹ emotionality
- Empedocles ›
- empennage ›
- emperor ›
- emperor penguin ›
- empery ›
- emphasis ›
- emphasize ›
- emphatic ›
- emphatically ›
- emphysema ›

