# sympathize

> English word · Verb · frequency rank #26,990

## Definitions
1. To have, show or express sympathy; to be affected by feelings similar to those of another, in consequence of knowing the person to be thus affected
2. To support, favour, have sympathy (with a political cause or movement, a side in a conflict / in an action).
3. To say in an expression of sympathy.
4. To have a common feeling, as of bodily pleasure or pain.
5. To share (a feeling or experience).
6. To agree; to be in accord; to harmonize.

## Etymology
Borrowed from French sympathiser. By surface analysis, sympathy + -ize. Displaced native Old English efnþrōwian (literally “to suffer with or together”).

## Easily confused with
- **sympathizer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sympathize-vs-sympathizer)
- **sympathies** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sympathies-vs-sympathize)
- **sympathise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sympathise-vs-sympathize)

## Common misspellings (16)
`smypathize`, `ssympathize`, `symapthize`, `symmpathize`, `sympahtize`, `sympathhize`, `sympathiez`, `sympathizze`, `sympathzie`, `sympatihze`, `sympatthize`, `symppathize`, `symptahize`, `sypmathize`, `syympathize`, `ysmpathize`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/sympathize