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compassionate
/kəmˈpæʃənət/
showing care and kindness
The doctor gave compassionate care to the patient.
The doctor showed genuine concern and kindness while treating the patient.
formal
Feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others who are suffering.
She wrote a compassionate letter to the grieving family.
She expressed deep sympathy and care in her letter to the family.
The judge showed compassionate consideration for the defendant's difficult circumstances.
The judge took into account the defendant's hardships with understanding and kindness.
Often used to describe actions or attitudes that reflect deep empathy, especially in professional or formal contexts like healthcare, law, or social work.
Collocations
compassionate carecare that shows empathy and kindnesscompassionate responsea reaction that shows understanding and concerncompassionate leadera leader who shows empathy and care for their team
Pro Tip
Distinguish from 'sympathetic'
'Compassionate' implies not just understanding someone's feelings but also taking action to help, while 'sympathetic' can simply mean sharing someone's feelings without necessarily acting on it.
Gold Rule
Use in context of suffering
Compassionate is best used when describing responses to suffering, hardship, or distress. It is not appropriate for neutral or positive situations.
Word Origin
From Latin *compassionare* (to suffer with), derived from *com-* (with) + *passionare* (to suffer), from *passio* (suffering). The word entered English in the late 17th century, initially as a noun (*compassion*), with the adjective *compassionate* following shortly after.
Usage Notes
Compassionate is often used in formal or professional contexts to describe actions or policies that prioritize human dignity and empathy. It can also describe personal qualities, such as in 'a compassionate friend.' Avoid using it to describe physical pain or suffering.
Word Breakdown
com-
with
prefix-passion-
suffering
root-ate
having the quality of
suffixEnglish Dictionary