Sympathetic meaning

What does “sympathetic” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“sympathetic” is an adjective with 6 meanings. Its most common meaning is: of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system.

sympathetic

of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system
“sympathetic neurons”
“sympathetic stimulation”
expressing or feeling or resulting from sympathy or compassion or friendly fellow feelings; disposed toward
“sympathetic to the students' cause”
“a sympathetic observer”
Oppositesunsympathetic
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
“was charitable in his opinions of others”
“kindly criticism”
Synonymscharitable benevolent kindly good-hearted openhearted large-hearted
(of characters in literature or drama) evoking empathic or sympathetic feelings
“the sympathetic characters in the play”
Synonymsappealing likeable likable
Oppositesunsympathetic
having similar disposition and tastes
“with their many similar tastes, he found her a most sympathetic companion”
relating to vibrations that occur as a result of vibrations in a nearby body
“sympathetic vibration”
Synonymsharmonic

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University