Commiserate: Definition, Usage, and Examples

Meaning 1：express sympathy (commiserate)

commiserate 🔊

/kəˈmɪzəreɪt/

vi.

To show you understand and share someone's sadness or disappointment, usually by talking with them about it.

Commiserate scene: friend comforting sad person on sofa

express sympathy 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈspres ˈsɪmpəθi/

vi.

To express shared sadness or disappointment with someone, typically through conversation or comforting gestures.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'com-' (together) + 'miserari' (to pity), from 'miser' (wretched).

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'com' (together) + 'miser' (misery) → we share misery together; we commiserate.

📖 Example

When my friend was upset about failing his exam, I sat down with him for a coffee to commiserate. 🔊 When my friend was upset about failing his exam, I sat down with him for a coffee to commiserate.

🔗 Collocations

commiserate with someone – To express sympathy to someone who is sad or disappointed

commiserate over something – To share sadness about a particular event or situation

commiserate together – To express mutual sympathy as a group

🔄 Synonyms

sympathize (vi.) – To feel or express sympathy for someone's suffering or misfortune

condole (vi.) – To express sympathy or sorrow, especially in response to a bereavement

empathize (vi.) – To understand and share the feelings of another person

🚫 Antonyms

rejoice (vi.) – To feel or show great joy, opposite of expressing sympathy

celebrate (vi.) – To express happiness for a success, opposite of commiserating over failure

🌱 Derivatives

commiseration (n.) – The feeling or expression of pity or sympathy

commiserative (adj.) – Expressing pity or sympathy

commiseratively (adv.) – In a manner that expresses pity or sympathy

📖 Cultural Story

The word entered English in the late 16th century from Latin 'commiserari', meaning to feel pity together. It is commonly used in social contexts where people share in each other's sorrows or disappointments.