What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sympathize
Example
I sympathize with you and understand how hard this must be for you. [sympathize: verb]
Example
She appreciated her friend's ability to sympathize with her during her time of grief. [sympathize: verb]
console
Example
He tried to console his friend after her breakup by offering her a listening ear. [console: verb]
Example
The counselor was able to console the student and help her feel better about her academic struggles. [console: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Console is more commonly used than sympathize in everyday language. Console is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while sympathize is less common and is typically used in response to someone's emotional state.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between sympathize and console?
Both sympathize and console can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but sympathize may be seen as more formal due to its less frequent usage in everyday language.
