Empathy vs Sympathy
Published January 19, 2023. Updated January 19, 2023.
Empathy and sympathy are two words that share similar meanings but have very different uses. Empathy is a noun that refers to “one’s ability to understand the feelings of another while not always necessarily sharing them.” Sympathy, on the other hand, is a noun that refers to “the sharing of feelings of sorrow or pity for someone else.” While both have to do with feelings, empathy is more so related to one’s ability to understand the feelings of another, whereas sympathy is sharing feelings with another.
Here are some definitions and example sentences to help you understand the use of each word.
Empathy (noun)
One’s ability to understand the feelings of another while not always necessarily sharing them.
Examples:
It is always important for those who work in social services to have empathy for those they work with.
Having been through so many tough experiences related to employment, I have developed a sense of empathy for those who are between jobs.
Remember that while empathy refers to the understanding of someone else’s feelings, it does not always mean that those feelings are directly shared.
Sympathy (noun)
The sharing of feelings of sorrow or pity for someone else.
Examples:
Even if I didn’t know her well, I felt great sympathy for my coworker after her mother passed away.
It is always hard for me to watch dramatic movies, as I always cry out of sympathy for the characters’ suffering.
With sympathy, think of the individual feeling it as experiencing sadness or pity alongside someone else. For example, if you are writing a sympathy card, you are expressing that you are feeling the recipient’s emotions, while maybe not to their same extent, alongside them.
Main Points
- Empathy is a noun that refers to one’s understanding of someone else’s feelings.
- Sympathy is a noun that refers to one’s sharing of someone else’s feelings, usually those of suffering.
- Think of empathy as a feeling that is developed over time, whereas sympathy is something that is felt when specific situations occur.