Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
sympathy (noun)1.
a) an affinity, association, or relationship between persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the other
b) mutual or parallel susceptibility or a condition brought about by it
c) unity or harmony in action or effect - every part is in complete sympathy with the scheme as a whole Edwin Benson
2.
a) inclination to think or feel alike emotional or intellectual accord - in sympathy with their goals
b) feeling of loyalty tendency to favor or support - republican sympathies
3.
a) the act or capacity of entering into or sharing the feelings or interests of another
b) the feeling or mental state brought about by such sensitivity - have sympathy for the poor
4.
the correlation existing between bodies capable of communicating their vibrational energy to one another through some medium attraction, pity
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
sympathy (noun)1.
sorrow or the capacity to feel sorrow for another's suffering or misfortune
SYNONIMS:
commiseration, compassion, feelingRELATED WORDS:
condolence, regret; humaneness, humanity, kindheartedness, kindliness, kindness, mercy, pity, ruth, softheartedness, warmheartedness; affinity, empathy, rapport, sensitivity, understanding; altruism, benevolence, benignity, bigheartedness, charity, generosity, goodwill, humanitarianism, largeheartedness, largesse ( largess), magnanimity, philanthropyNEAR ANTONYMS:
indifference, insensitivity, unconcern; cruelty, harshness, inhumanity; animosity, antipathy, dislike, hatred, hostility2.
the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune
SYNONIMS:
bigheartedness, charity, commiseration, compassion, feeling, good-heartedness, humanity, kindheartedness, kindliness, kindness, largeheartedness, mercy, pity, ruth, softheartedness, sympathy, warmheartednessRELATED WORDS:
feelings, responsiveness, sensibility, sensitivity; affection, love, regard; affinity, empathy, rapport; altruism, benevolence, benignancy, benignity, generosity, goodwill, humaneness, humanism, humanitarianism, philanthropyNEAR ANTONYMS:
callousness, coldness, disinterest, indifference, unconcern; cruelty, harshness; animosity, antipathy, dislike, hatred, hostility