What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
empathetic
Example
She was very empathetic towards her friend who had lost a loved one. [empathetic: adjective]
Example
He showed empathy towards his colleague who was struggling with a difficult project. [empathy: noun]
sympathetic
Example
The teacher was sympathetic to the student who was going through a tough time. [sympathetic: adjective]
Example
She expressed sympathy towards her neighbor who had lost her job. [sympathy: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sympathetic is more commonly used than empathetic in everyday language. Sympathetic is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while empathetic is less common and is typically used in psychology and counseling contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between empathetic and sympathetic?
Both empathetic and sympathetic can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, empathetic may be perceived as more formal due to its association with psychology and counseling.
