compassionately

UK: /kəmˈpæʃ^ənətli/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•pas•sion /kəmˈpæʃən/   n. [uncountable]  

1. a feeling of sympathy for another's misfortune.

com•pas•sion•ate /kəmˈpæʃənɪt/  adj. 
com•pas•sion•ate•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•pas•sion  (kəm pash′ən), n. 

1. a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

v.t. 

2. [Archaic.] to compassionate.

• Late Latin compassiōn- (stem of compassiō). See com-, passion
• Anglo-French)
• Middle English (1300–50

com•pas′sion•less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. commiseration, mercy, tenderness, heart, clemency. See sympathy. 

Antonyms

• 1. mercilessness, indifference.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•pas•sion•ate  (adj. kəm pash′ə nit;v. kəm pash′ə nāt′), adj., v., -at•ed, -at•ing. 
adj. 

1. having or showing compassion:
   a compassionate person; a compassionate letter.
2. granted in an emergency:
   compassionate military leave granted to attend a funeral.
3. [Obs.] pitiable.

v.t. 

4. to have compassion for;
   pity.

• compassion + -ate¹ 1580–90

com•pas′sion•ate•ly, adv. 
com•pas′sion•ate•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. pitying, sympathizing, sympathetic, tender.