sympathizer

UK: /ˈsɪmpəθaɪzə^r/ US: (sim′pə thī′zər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sym•pa•thiz•er  (sim′pə thī′zər), n. 

1. a person who sympathizes.
2. [Ophthalm.] an eye that exhibits ophthalmia because of disease or injury of the other.

• sympathize + -er¹ 1805–15

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

sym•pa•thize /ˈsɪmpəˌθaɪz/   v. [no object*  ( ~ + with + object)] , -thized, -thiz•ing. 

1. to feel or show sympathy:
   Believe me, I can sympathize with her situation.
2. to express compassion for someone in order to comfort:
   He tried to sympathize with her over the loss of her father.
3. to have the same or similar feeling as (a person, group, etc.):
   They sympathize with the mayor in his frustration over working with the city council.

sym•pa•thiz•er, n. [countable] See -path-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sym•pa•thize  (sim′pə thīz′), v.i., -thized, -thiz•ing. 

1. to be in sympathy or agreement of feeling;
   share in a feeling (often fol. by with).
2. to feel a compassionate sympathy, as for suffering or trouble (often fol. by with).
3. to express sympathy or condole (often fol. by with).
4. to be in approving accord, as with a person or cause:
   to sympathize with a person's aims.
5. to agree, correspond, or accord.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] sym′pa•thise′. 

• Middle French sympathiser, equivalent. to sympath(ie) sympathy + -iser -ize
• 1580–90

sym′pa•thiz′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 4. understand, approve, favor, back, support.