compassion

noun

kəm-ˈpa-shən How to pronounce compassion (audio)
Definition of compassionnext
1
as in sympathy
sorrow or the capacity to feel sorrow for another's suffering or misfortune treats the homeless with great compassion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in kindness
the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune has no compassion for people who squander their money

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun compassion contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of compassion are commiseration, condolence, pity, and sympathy. While all these words mean "the act or capacity for sharing the painful feelings of another," compassion implies pity coupled with an urgent desire to aid or to spare.

treats the homeless with great compassion

When might commiseration be a better fit than compassion?

While in some cases nearly identical to compassion, commiseration suggests pity expressed outwardly in exclamations, tears, or words of comfort.

murmurs of commiseration filled the loser's headquarters

Where would condolence be a reasonable alternative to compassion?

While the synonyms condolence and compassion are close in meaning, condolence applies chiefly to formal expression of grief to one who has suffered loss.

expressed their condolences to the widow

In what contexts can pity take the place of compassion?

In some situations, the words pity and compassion are roughly equivalent. However, pity implies tender or sometimes slightly contemptuous sorrow for one in misery or distress.

felt pity for the captives

When is sympathy a more appropriate choice than compassion?

The words sympathy and compassion can be used in similar contexts, but sympathy often suggests a tender concern but can also imply a power to enter into another's emotional experience of any sort.

went to my best friend for sympathy
in sympathy with her desire to locate her natural parents

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 compassion Erica Muñoz stated her reason for joining the board was the need to rebuild trust through transparency and compassion. —Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2025 The expectation is that their story will be read and that their future will be weighed with compassion, not convenience. —Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 19 July 2025 This new Democratic Party, along with patriotic independents, will lead America to prosperity and compassion and a return to sanity. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2025 An ad promoting tourism in Canada has gone viral for its compassion. —Jade Walker, CNN Money, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for compassion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compassion
  1. sympathy
  2. kindness
  3. empathy
  4. heart
Noun
  • This compared to 28 percent who had sympathy for the royals and 68 percent who had either not very much or none.
    — Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
  • Finally, Trump Seems to Get Putin Then came this week’s weapons deal along with more sympathy for Ukraine and more praise for NATO and its leader.
    — Tom Nagorski, Time, 18 July 2025
Definition of sympathy
Noun
  • But his message will resound of kindness and creativity.
    — Steve Baltin, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
  • His kindness and passion touched everyone who knew him.
    — Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
Definition of kindness
Noun
  • The Vault ensures lessons in courage and empathy are never lost or forgotten. 5.
    — Shekar Natarajan, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • As the company’s founder, the late Latt prioritized fostering meaningful connections between audiences and projects rooted in empathy, inclusion and social responsibility.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 21 July 2025
Definition of empathy
Noun
  • Coates was now entering a terminal stage: his heart and kidneys were failing, and fluid had to be drained from his belly several times a week.
    — Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 15 July 2025
  • What makes for a better song — a broken heart or falling in love?
    — Brittany Talarico, People.com, 15 July 2025
Definition of heart

Browse Nearby Words

compassing
compassion
compassionate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Compassion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compassion. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on compassion

Nglish: Translation of compassion for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All