compassion
kuhm-PASH-uhn
/kəmˈpæʃən/
Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others, accompanied by a strong desire to help.
Goes beyond passive feeling to include an active, practical drive to relieve the suffering observed.
The story behind the word. Entered Middle English via Old French from Late Latin 'compassio', literally translating 'suffering together'. Early theological texts used it to describe profound, selfless love that bears another's burdens.
Word relationships
- empathy: Empathy is feeling another's state; compassion combines feeling with a motivation to act and help.
- cruelty: Cruelty intentionally inflicts harm, whereas compassion seeks actively to remove harm.
Commonly confused with
- pity: Pity can carry a patronizing tone, whereas compassion treats the sufferer as an equal worthy of action.
Word family
- compassionate (adjective): Feeling or showing compassion.
- compassionately (adverb): In a compassionate manner.
Collocations
- deep compassion
- show compassion
- act with compassion
- stir compassion
Idioms & expressions
- boundless compassion
Example sentences
- "Her compassion drove her to organize medical supplies for refugees displaced by the flood." Humanitarian relief efforts
- "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." Philosophical discussion
Memory hook
COMpassion = COMing together to PASS ON relief to those suffering. Action born from suffering together.
When not to use
Do not use when describing detached observation or cold intellectual understanding without care or action.
Fun facts
- Brain imaging shows that compassion activates neural reward pathways distinct from those activated by empathetic distress.
Related words
Explore more words
compassionate, sympathetic, sympathize, humane, altruism, empathetic
Also appears in
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