Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

compassion

[ kuhm-pash-uhn ]

noun

  1. a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

    Synonyms: , , , ,

    Antonyms: ,



verb (used with object)

  1. Archaic. to have compassion for; compassionate.

compassion

/ əˈæʃə /

noun

  1. a feeling of distress and pity for the suffering or misfortune of another, often including the desire to alleviate it
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • dz·貹sDz· adjective
  • ܲcdz·貹sDz noun
  • ܲcdz·貹sDzed adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of compassion1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Late Latin dz貹ō- (stem of dz貹ō ). See com-, passion
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of compassion1

C14: from Old French, from Late Latin dz貹ō fellow feeling, from dz貹ī to suffer with, from Latin com- with + 貹ī to bear, suffer
Discover More

Synonym Study

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“Still, it is the roaring thing that tugs away from the very shores we clutch. There is no better compass than this compassion.”

From

"It's most important that discussions about autism are grounded in science, compassion and most importantly the living experiences of people with autism themselves," he said.

From

The current Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, did publish an eloquent and heartfelt tribute to Pope Francis in the hours after his death, describing him as a man of deep faith and boundless compassion.

From

It's a remarkably touching moment, full of compassion and devoid of rock star ego.

From

As I reflect on the life and legacy of our beloved Holy Father, my heart is deeply moved by the profound love and compassion he showed for his people.

From

Advertisement

Discover More

More About Compassion

doescompassion mean?

Compassion is a feeling of sympathy or pity for others, especially one that makes you want to help them.

Compassion is sometimes used interchangeably with sympathy, which most most commonly means the sharing of emotions with someone else, especially sadness. Both words are used in the context of feeling sorry for people who are in negative situations. But compassion is often understood as a feeling that motivates you to help them.

The opposite of compassion is often thought to be indifference or cold-heartedness.

Someone who has compassion for others can be described as compassionate. Being compassionate typically means you care and you want to help.

Example: We should treat people with compassion because that’s how we want to be treated.

Where doescompassion come from?

The first records of the word compassion come from the 1300s. It comes from the Late Latin dz貹ō, meaning “fellow feeling,” from dz貹ī, “to suffer with.” Compassion and sympathy are sometimes used to mean the same thing, and their roots mean the same things, too. The pathy in sympathy and the passion in compassion are both rooted in words that mean “to suffer,” and the com- and sym- at the beginning of each word both mean “with.”

Compassion may involve sharing in someone’s suffering, but the word most commonly refers to a desire to end that suffering by helping in some way. It’s often associated with other words related to caring about people, such as kindness and empathy.

The phrase compassion fatigue refers to a kind of burnout that can result from constantly having to care for others or from being frequently faced with things intended to produce compassion, such as frequent requests for charitable donations.

Did you know ... ?

are some other forms related to compassion?

are some synonyms for compassion?

are some words that share a root or word element with compassion?

are some words that often get used in discussing compassion?

How iscompassion used in real life?

Compassion is often used in the discussion of why people should treat others with kindness—as well as in the discussion of how some people don’t.

Try usingcompassion!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of compassion?

A. happiness
B. kindness
C. sympathy
D. clemency

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


compass deviation cardcompassionate