“Empathy” vs. “Sympathy”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “empathy” and “sympathy”

  • Empathy involves understanding and sharing the emotions of others, while sympathy involves feeling sorry for someone.
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What is the definition of “empathy” and “sympathy”?

Empathy
  • Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others.
  • It involves putting oneself in the shoes of another person and experiencing their emotions.
  • Empathy helps to build strong connections with others and fosters a sense of human connection.
Sympathy
  • Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone who is experiencing a difficult situation or suffering.
  • It involves expressing compassion and concern for another person's well-being.
  • Sympathy is often shown through acts of kindness or words of support.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Empathy” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Empathy
178,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. As someone who has gone through a similar experience, I have empathy for your situation.
  2. She showed empathy towards her friend who was going through a tough time.
  3. The therapist's empathy towards his patients allowed them to feel understood and supported.
Sympathy
106,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I express my sympathy for your loss and am here to support you during this difficult time.
  2. She received many messages of sympathy after the passing of her grandmother.
  3. Despite never experiencing a similar situation, he showed sympathy towards his friend who lost their job.
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