Sympathised

Sympathised is the past tense and past participle of the British English verb sympathise. It means to feel or express sympathy for someone, to share the feelings of another, or to support a person, situation, or cause. In American English the spelling sympathized is used.

Usage is typically with with, as in “I sympathise with those affected by the decision.” It can also indicate a general sense of solidarity or approval for a movement or stance, for example “The community sympathised with the campaign.” The sense lies more in emotional resonance or moral support than in a precise understanding of another person’s inner experience, which is more closely associated with empathise. Nevertheless, sympathise and empathise are often used interchangeably in everyday language, with sympathise focusing on shared feelings of pity or concern and empathise emphasising perspective-taking.

Etymology and variants: The verb derives from French sympathie (and related forms such as sympathiser), ultimately from Late Latin sympathia and Greek sympathía, formed from elements meaning “together” and “feeling.” The British spelling uses -ise, while American English employs -ize (sympathized).

See also: empathise, empathy, sympathy. Synonyms include pity, compassion, solidarity.