WordGarden.iounsympathetic
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ʌnsˌɪmpəθˈɛtɪk/
US
- /ənˌsɪmpəˈθɛtɪk/
Meanings
Adjective
not kind, understanding, or compassionate toward another person's suffering or feelings
not favorable or responsive to a person, idea, request, or cause
not likely to arouse pity, compassion, or warm understanding
Beyond the definition
Imagine telling a friend about a difficult day, hoping for a kind word, but instead they just shrug and tell you to "get over it." That person is being unsympathetic. This word describes someone who shows little care or concern for another person's feelings, especially when that person is in pain or having trouble. It can feel like hitting a cold wall when you were looking for warmth and understanding. The word does not apply only to people, though; someone can also be unsympathetic to an idea or a cause, meaning they do not agree with it or support its goals.
To be unsympathetic is to lack the "fellow feeling" that connects us to one another. While a sympathetic person might offer a shoulder to cry on, an unsympathetic person remains unmoved by another's distress. This lack of compassion can stem from many places—perhaps they believe the person's problems are self-inflicted, or maybe they are simply detached and stoic by nature. In storytelling, an unsympathetic character is often the one we find hard to like because they seem harsh, judgmental, or indifferent to the suffering of others.
The term is also frequently used in professional or ideological contexts. If a manager is unsympathetic to an employee's request for time off, they are showing a lack of flexibility or understanding for that person's situation. Similarly, you might hear that a political leader is unsympathetic to a certain movement, which means they do not support its aims and have no intention of helping it succeed.
In a more abstract sense, unsympathetic can describe an environment that is harsh and unforgiving. A jagged, frozen mountain peak could be described as an unsympathetic landscape because it offers no comfort or support for life. Whether it describes a person's cold reaction, a lack of support for an idea, or a harsh environment, the word consistently points to a lack of kindness, understanding, or support.
Examples
- 1
Workplace request
The manager was unsympathetic when the team asked for more time to finish the project.
- 2
Medical manner
She found the doctor competent but rather unsympathetic.
- 3
Life plans
My parents were unsympathetic to the idea of taking a year off before university.
- Patternunsympathetic to + idea/request
not supportive of it
- 4
Legal excuse
The judge seemed unsympathetic to his excuse that he had simply forgotten the deadline.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Character description
In the novel, he is an unsympathetic father who cares more about rules than people.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
- unempathetic
Used with (collocations)
- unsympathetic response
- unsympathetic attitude
- unsympathetic listener
Word family
Explore
- lack of compassion
- emotional coldness
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- unsympatheticadjective