Sympathy: English Vocabulary List

the compassion and sympathy that is shown to others

"He is full of the milk of human kindness."

"The nurse treated all her patients with the milk of human kindness and genuine compassion."

used to emphasize that a person is just a normal human being with similar feelings or weaknesses as others

"She is my own flesh and blood."

"The contract may say one thing but he is my own flesh and blood so I cannot turn my back on him."

to make a strong impression on someone, in a way that they feel a strong sense of love or sympathy for a person

"The movie tugged my heartstrings."

"The documentary about the rescued animals really tugged at my heartstrings and made me cry."

to no longer have kind feelings for a person

"Do not harden your heart against them."

"After being betrayed several times he hardened his heart and refused to trust anyone ever again."

sympathy, help, or encouragement that is barely enough to improve a person's situation or make them feel any better

"This is cold comfort."

"The apology offered little cold comfort to the victims of the devastating accident."

in a way that is absolutely cruel and shows no sympathy or mercy of any kind

"He was murdered in cold blood."

"The killer shot the victim in cold blood without any remorse or emotion at all."

to soothe someone who is injured, usually a child, by kissing the injured spot

"Mom kissed the bruise to make it better."

"The little girl fell and hurt her knee so her mother kissed it better and put a bandage on it."

used to convey intense sadness or empathy one feels for someone or something in a tragic or distressing situation

"My heart bleeds for them."

"My heart bleeds for all the families who lost their homes in the devastating flood last month."

to finally talk about what has long been bothering or concerning one

"I need to get this off my chest."

"I need to get this off my chest because I have been feeling guilty about it for weeks now."

used to ask a person to stop their unkind or indifferent behavior and offer some help or show some sympathy instead

"Have a heart, please."

"Please have a heart and give the homeless man some food and shelter from the cold weather."

in a similar or identical situation to someone else, particularly a difficult or unpleasant one

"I would not want to be in his shoes right now."

"If I were in your shoes I would apologize immediately before the situation gets even worse."

used to show one sympathizes with and feels sorry for someone else's suffering

"My heart goes out."

"My heart goes out to everyone affected by the recent devastating floods and loss of their homes."

to make someone feel strong emotions such as enthusiasm or sympathy

"Her story struck a chord with me."

"The politician's speech about family values struck a chord with many voters who shared the same beliefs."

a personality marked by emotional coldness and lack of sympathy

"The villain has a heart of stone."

"The cruel landlord had a heart of stone and evicted the family even though they had nowhere to go."

said to show sympathy for a person's difficult or unlucky situation

"Woe is me!"

"After losing his job and his car in the same week, he exclaimed, "Woe is me!""

to make a person emotional, particularly by causing them to feel sympathy for someone

"Your kindness touched my heart."

"The kindness of strangers after the fire touched her heart and gave her hope for the future."