Definition of "sympathy" []

• A relationship or an affinity between people or things in which whatever affects one correspondingly affects the other. (noun)
• Mutual understanding or affection arising from this relationship or affinity. (noun)
• The act or power of sharing the feelings of another. (noun)
• A feeling or an expression of pity or sorrow for the distress of another; compassion or commiseration. Often used in the plural. See Synonyms at pity. (noun)
• Harmonious agreement; accord: He is in sympathy with their beliefs. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "It is my belief that she is trying to gain sympathy from the Republican conservative base, as the "poor Sarah, everyone picks on me.""
• "Some play on the image of the troubled and traumatized veteran, even using it to win sympathy from a judge or jury."
• "To paraphrase his satyrical entry at the Reagan Wing, Doug alleges that Mike! faked or made up this DUI or at least preemptively announced it as a devious ploy to gain sympathy from the electorate."