compassionate 1 of 2

adjective

kəm-ˈpa-sh(ə-)nət How to pronounce compassionate (audio)
Definition of compassionatenext
1
as in benevolent
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others a compassionate person by nature

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2
as in sympathetic
having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another a compassionate smile made the refugees feel a little better

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

compassionate

2 of 2

verb

kəm-ˈpa-shə-ˌnāt How to pronounce compassionate (audio)
as in to pity
to have sympathy for a gentle soul who could compassionate even the most reprobate of scoundrels and villains

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of compassionate
Adjective
And so, seeing that human, compassionate side of him was something that really resonated with me. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026 This perception of threat, intertwined with a harsh interpretation of religious morality, dominated 17th-century life, with the optimistic, protective and compassionate aspects of Christianity often overpowered by fear and a desire to judge. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026 Colleagues remembered Evans as a compassionate doctor to patients who trained other pediatricians. — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026 Playing Edward as the courtly and compassionate polar-opposite of his awful sister Fanny, MacKay brings a gentle diffidence that syncs beautifully with Edgar-Jones’ delicate reserve. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for compassionate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compassionate
  1. benevolent
  2. sympathetic
  3. pity
  4. kind
  5. empathetic
  6. humane
  7. empathic
  8. thoughtful
Adjective
  • To George, there are benevolent choices that businessmen owe to those who their work touches.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
  • With new ownership, the Lakers’ braintrust no longer has the protection of the benevolent Buss family or the baseball-centric Mark Walter.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of benevolent
Adjective
  • That her means of exit is abandoning her newborn twins is less than sympathetic, but in a different era Cathy would have options beyond a domesticity that never suited her in the first place.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In my experience, many corporate teams drift between sympathetic over-activation (burnout) and dorsal shutdown (disengagement).
    — Roy Ward, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of sympathetic
Verb
  • Those who drive past our protests and yell insults or flip us the bird are to be pitied.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Raphinha, revelling in his new role as a No 9, scored twice (pity those two Feyenoord players mocked up in a canoe), while Lamine Yamal turned the pitch into a playground for 90 minutes.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of pity
Adjective
  • The five years between home playoff games were not kind to fans of the South Siders.
    — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
  • For her performance as Thelma, the kind young stranger who shares a bus trip with the elderly woman returning to her long-ago home in Bountiful, Saint won the 1954 Outer Critics Circle Special Award.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of kind
Adjective
  • Angry but empathetic, frank in its darkness but refusing to wallow in it, Tip Toe is a cry of frustration that cuts right to the heart.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In 2007, Gregory Maguire gave us the beloved Wicked, which reframed the villainous Wicked Witch of the West as an empathetic, driven, and misunderstood heroine.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of empathetic
Adjective
  • The United States has previously faced accusations of violating international laws on torture and humane treatment.
    — Claire Healy, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Sally Hayden’s reportage is always deeply humane, rigorous and challenging, and this new book promises to be an education.
    — Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of humane
Adjective
  • One of the fears concerning AI in fiction filmmaking is that the medium of cinema could lose the value of the empathic connection people have with other humans.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Along those same lines, the show’s returning castmates shared which elements of Ted’s empathic ethos have become core in their own lives.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of empathic
Adjective
  • The service Enthusiastic, thoughtful, and caring, the service here is warm and heartfelt.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • As Toby Ziegler and Josiah Bartlett could tell you, the only way to change is the world is with a small group of thoughtful and committed citizens.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of thoughtful

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compassionate
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Cite this Entry

“Compassionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compassionate. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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