compassionate

[kuhm-pash-uh-nit, kuhm-pash-uh-neyt]

adjective

1. having or showing compassion.

   a compassionate person; a compassionate letter.

   Synonyms: tender, sympathetic, pitying

2. granted in an emergency.

   compassionate military leave granted to attend a funeral.

3. Obsolete.,  pitiable.

verb (used with object)

compassionated, compassionating 

1. Archaic.,  to pity or have compassion for.

compassionate

/ kəmˈpæʃənət /

adjective

1. showing or having compassion

2. leave granted, esp to a serviceman, on the grounds of bereavement, family illness, etc

Other Word Forms

• compassionately adverb
• compassionateness noun
• uncompassionate adjective
• uncompassionately adverb
• uncompassionateness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of compassionate¹

First recorded in 1580–90; compassion + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

I now trust that there is a sober, sane, emotionally stable, well-resourced and compassionate adult woman at the wheel of my life.

From Los Angeles Times

The minister said she had discussed a review with the director general of prisons about potential changes to pre-release testing and compassionate release.

From BBC

In this bitter but sharp and compassionate novel, two generations of bad girls emerge as strong women and complete human beings.

From Los Angeles Times

"She was compassionate, intelligent, brave, witty - simply a delightful person who loved sharing life with others," he said.

From BBC

And I think it’s taught me how to be a more compassionate person who listens more and watches more.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• benevolent 
• charitable 
• humane 
• merciful 
• sympathetic 
• warm 
• warmhearted www.thesaurus.com

When To Use

What does compassionate mean?

Compassionate means having compassion—a feeling of sympathy or pity for others, especially one that makes you want to help them.Being compassionate typically means you care and you want to help. The word can describe a person, their actions, or a situation that involves or is based on compassion.The word compassion is sometimes used interchangeably with sympathy, and compassionate is sometimes used to mean sympathetic, which most most commonly means sharing emotions with someone else, especially sadness. These words are all used in the context of feeling sorry for people who are in negative situations. But being compassionate is often understood as having a feeling that motivates you to help them.The opposite of being compassionate is being uncompassionate—indifferent or cold-hearted.The word compassionate can also be used in a more specific way to mean granted in circumstances that call for compassion. The word is used this way in the phrase compassionate leave, which refers to permission to be absent, such as from military duty, due to a death or illness in the family or other personal reasons.Example: We should be compassionate toward others because that’s how we want to be treated.