sympathy
n. C / Un. the feeling of being sorry for someone who is in a bad situation. You show this when you understand someone else's pain and want them to feel better.
n. the act or capacity of sharing in the feelings of another, especially feelings of sorrow or trouble. Often implies a sense of pity or compassion rather than a shared identity of experience.
I have a lot of sympathy for her situation.
The manager expressed her sympathy for the staff members who lost their homes during the flood.
While the protagonist is technically a criminal, the author writes with such nuance that the reader cannot help but feel a deep sympathy for his tragic upbringing.
Borrowed from Middle French sympathie, from Late Latin sympathīa (“feeling in common”), from Ancient Greek σῠμπᾰ́θειᾰ (sŭmpắtheiă, “fellow feeling”), from σῠμπᾰθής (sŭmpăthḗs, “affected by like feelings; exerting mutual influence, interacting”) + -ῐᾰ (-ĭă, “-y”, nominal suffix). Equivalent to sym- (“acting or considered together”) + -pathy (“feeling”).
Often used with the preposition 'for' when directed at a person, or 'with' when expressing agreement with an idea.
I have sympathy to youI have sympathy for youThe noun sympathy typically takes the preposition 'for' when expressing compassion for a person.