compassionate
kuhm-PASH-un-it
/kəmˈpæʃ.ən.ət/
feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate their suffering
Goes beyond passive feeling to include an active urge to help relieve distress or hardship.
The story behind the word. Derived from Late Latin 'compassio', combining 'com-' (together with) and 'pati' (to suffer). To be compassionate literally means 'to suffer together with' another person, driving you to lessen their pain.
Word relationships
- merciful: Merciful specifically implies holding power over someone and choosing not to punish them, whereas compassionate centers on active caring.
- kindhearted: Kindhearted is informal and general, while compassionate carries a more serious tone tied to relieving suffering.
- ruthless: Ruthless implies a total lack of pity or compassion in pursuing goals.
- cruel: Cruel means willfully causing pain or suffering to others.
Commonly confused with
- passionate: Passionate means having strong romantic or enthusiastic feelings; compassionate means showing care toward someone in suffering.
Word family
- compassion (noun): sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings of others
- compassionately (adverb): in a compassionate manner
Collocations
- compassionate care
- compassionate leader
- compassionate ground
- compassionate nature
Idioms & expressions
- bleeding heart
Example sentences
- "The aid workers offered compassionate care to families who had lost their homes in the earthquake." Humanitarian aid
- "She had a compassionate heart that could never turn away a soul in pain." Classic Literature
Memory hook
COMPASSION = COM (together) + PASSION (deep feeling/suffering). You suffer together and want to help. Suffering together into action.
When not to use
Avoid using for mild polite acts (like opening a door); reserve it for situations involving real distress, suffering, or hardship.
Fun facts
- In medieval theology, compassion was considered one of the highest royal virtues necessary for a just monarch.
Related words
Explore more words
compassion, sympathize, pity, sympathy, commiserate, selfless
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