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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
His friends in Hawaii remember him as thoughtful, kind, and compassionate. — Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 17 Aug. 2026 Post-surgery, hospital floor nurses provide continuous, compassionate care, managing recovery and educating families, transforming surgical results into functional healing. — Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
Modern Legal is not only a firm dedicated to compassionate legal advocacy but also underscores the critical role of education in empowering individuals. — Chris Gallagher, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025 Yet while 67% of white people who are eligible for PrEP are on it, only 8% eligible Black people are, often citing lack of access to healthcare or to compassionate healthcare. — Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, 20 Apr. 2023 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
  • The new movie follows a benevolent ex-pilot named Hig (Jacob Elordi) who, after losing his wife during a catastrophic global pandemic, lives out in the wilderness with his dog, Jasper, and ornery isolationist pal Bangley (Josh Brolin).
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • City leaders agree large, unsupervised gatherings could put kids at risk even if most attendees are there for benevolent reasons.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of benevolent
Adjective
  • With the ownership transfer and a potentially sympathetic mayor, the future of the graves at Higgs Beach enters another period of hope and uncertainty.
    — Oliver Wu, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The smartest plaintiffs' attorneys are doing a good job shopping for judges sympathetic to their cases — and there are more than 30 at the moment with nearly 400 athletes involved.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of sympathetic
Verb
  • There is nothing pitying and also nothing airbrushed in the pictures—just the occasional haze of a misty morning or the blurry tremor of a burning brush pile.
    — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
  • Or, even better, don’t pity Carlson.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Definition of pity
Adjective
  • Honestly, the real amenity here is the staff, who made a very big, bustling corner of the city feel warm and kind.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
  • In another life, a life that was kind to black people, Atlas would’ve been a scientist or a king or a master craftsman.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of kind
Adjective
  • Colman Domingo Domingo praised Parton’s ability to be talented and empathetic.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Focus on an actual harmful person, not the guy who everyone in Hollywood knows is hyper-intelligent, empathetic and talented.
    — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of empathetic
Adjective
  • Rio Blanco County Commissioner Callie Scritchfield, however, said captivity is more humane than allowing the horses to roam free.
    — Stina Sieg, NPR, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The organization, previously known as The Humane Society of the United States, said three former dog meat vendors made the operation possible after deciding to leave the industry and pursue more humane careers.
    — Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of humane
Adjective
  • 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
  • Born under the artistic water sign Pisces, symbolized by the Fish, your child is whimsical, sensitive, empathic, and imaginative.
    — Maressa Brown, Parents, 18 June 2026
Definition of empathic
Adjective
  • The fall 2026 collections leaned into this expression of individuality, showcasing an array of accents that encourage thoughtful experimentation.
    — Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Every element is artful, thoughtful—a genuine expression of the Sersales’ enduring love affair with contemporary art and cultural storytelling.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of thoughtful

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compassion
compassionate
compassionated
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Cite this Entry

“Compassionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compassionate. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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