Word.ws English Dictionary

Synonyms of compassionate

23 similar words

Another word for compassionate is empathetic. Other synonyms of compassionate are sympathetic, ruthful, piteous, pitiable and pathetic.

Synonyms and similar words for compassionate

adjectiveHaving, feeling or showing compassion (to or toward someone).

adjectiveInviting or asking for pity.

  • piteousProvoking pity, compassion, or sympathy.
  • pitiableThat deserves, evokes or can be given pity; pitiful.
  • patheticArousing pity, sympathy, or compassion; exciting pathos.
  • pitiful
  • pitisomeCharacterised or marked by pitifulness; piteous.
  • sad slang
  • poorWorthy of pity.
  • ruefulInspiring pity or compassion.
  • snivellyPitiful; whining.
  • sorry-ass slang, vulgarPitiful, worthless; utterly terrible or dire.
  • pathetisad rarePathetic: arousing scornful pity or contempt.

verbTo feel compassion (for someone or with regard to something); to regard (someone or something) with...

  • pity
  • feel sorry forTo pity; to show pity for.
  • commiserateTo feel or express compassion or sympathy for (someone or something).
  • feel someone's pain figurativelyTo sympathize with somebody.
  • take pityTo show compassion (towards).
  • compassion obsoleteTo pity.
  • condole obsoleteTo express condolence to, or sympathetic sorrow with (someone); to lament in sympathy with (someone).
  • mercify obsolete, rareTo have mercy on; to pity.
  • rue archaicTo feel compassion or pity; to take pity (on), to have compassion (on).

Meaning of compassionate

  1. adjective Having, feeling or showing compassion (to or toward someone).
  2. adjective Given to someone as an exception because of a family emergency or a death in their family.
  3. adjective Inviting or asking for pity.

Full definition of compassionate

compassionate in other languages

Questions about synonyms of compassionate

What is another word for compassionate?
Compassionate has 23 synonyms on Word.ws, such as empathetic, sympathetic, ruthful, piteous, pitiable, pathetic, pitiful and pitisome.
What does compassionate mean?
Compassionate means having, feeling or showing compassion (to or toward someone).

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: compassionate (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated:

Cite this page: “Synonyms of compassionate.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/compassionate. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.