sympathetic

Universal Words adjective 1 ~ (to / towards sb) kind to sb who is hurt or sad; showing that you understand and care about their problems: a sympathetic friend / listener / employer * I did not feel at all sympathetic towards Kate. * I'm here if you need a sympathetic ear (= sb to talk to about your problems). * a sympathetic look / manner / response * She was very sympathetic when I was sick. 2 ~ (to / towards sb/sth) showing that you approve of sb/sth or that you share their views and are willing to support them: to be sympathetic to aims / causes / ideas * Russian newspapers are largely sympathetic to the president. 3 (of a person) easy to like: a sympathetic character in a novel * I don't find her a very sympathetic person. HELPNOTE This meaning is not very common and you should use likeable or pleasant instead. OPPUNSYMPATHETIC sympathetically adverb: to nod / look / smile at sb sympathetically * We hope this application will be treated sympathetically (= it will be approved). * The teacher listened sympathetically to the student's problems.