compassion
Heart for others
Compassion is sympathetic concern for the suffering of others, coupled with a desire to help.
It goes beyond mere pity—compassion implies emotional engagement and often motivates action: She showed compassion for the homeless man by buying him a meal.
The word carries warmth without condescension, suggesting genuine fellow-feeling rather than looking down from a position of comfort.
Sharing another's emotions
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
- warmthHeat you feel
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
generosity · thoughtfulness · consideration · gentleness · graciousness · humaneness · magnanimity · soft-heartedness
Moral soundness and consistency
- humilityFreedom from arrogance
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
- courageFortitude facing danger
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
temperance · self-sacrifice · moral strength · righteousness · nobility · character · goodness · conscience
Buddhist helper of all
- loving-kindnessBenevolent, tender affection
- dharmaCosmic moral order
- sanghaBuddhist religious community
- meditationFocused attention practice
mindfulness · equanimity · suffering · liberation · bodhi · ahimsa · nonviolence · interconnection
Prioritizing others over oneself
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
- charityVoluntary aid for others
- humanitarianismPromoting welfare through compassion
- volunteerismUnpaid community assistance
giving · service · sacrifice · generosity · benevolent · donation · welfare · nonprofit
Supportive care-giving
- attentivenessConcentrated awareness of surroundings
- solicitudeAttentive care and concern
- concernTroubled interest in something
- comfortingGiving emotional ease
supportive · protective · caregiver · healing · devotion · understanding · consolation · solace
Compassion toward offenders
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- leniencyMildness in punishment
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
reconciliation · forbearance · clemency · understanding · acceptance · letting go · second chance · redemption
Pity expressed for suffering
- fellow-feelingSympathetic emotional connection
- pitySympathy for misfortune
- condolenceExpression of shared grief
- heartfeltDeeply and sincerely meant
understanding · concern · identification · resonance · rapport · connection · moved · touched
empathy
Sharing another's emotions
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
- warmthHeat you feel
benevolence · generosity · thoughtfulness · consideration · gentleness · graciousness · humaneness · magnanimity · soft-heartedness · good-heartedness
integrity
Moral soundness and consistency
fortitude · temperance · self-sacrifice · moral strength · righteousness · nobility · character · goodness · conscience · honor
bodhisattva
Buddhist helper of all
- loving-kindnessBenevolent, tender affection
- dharmaCosmic moral order
- sanghaBuddhist religious community
meditation · mindfulness · equanimity · suffering · liberation · bodhi · ahimsa · nonviolence · interconnection · sentient beings
selflessness
Prioritizing others over oneself
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
- charityVoluntary aid for others
- humanitarianismPromoting welfare through compassion
volunteerism · giving · service · sacrifice · generosity · benevolent · donation · welfare · nonprofit · community service
nurturing
Supportive care-giving
- attentivenessConcentrated awareness of surroundings
- solicitudeAttentive care and concern
- concernTroubled interest in something
comforting · supportive · protective · caregiver · healing · devotion · understanding · consolation · solace · reassurance
mercy
Compassion toward offenders
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- leniencyMildness in punishment
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
absolution · reconciliation · forbearance · clemency · understanding · acceptance · letting go · second chance · redemption · restoration
commiseration
Pity expressed for suffering
- fellow-feelingSympathetic emotional connection
- pitySympathy for misfortune
- condolenceExpression of shared grief
heartfelt · understanding · concern · identification · resonance · rapport · connection · moved · touched · tearful
- valuesvalue, honesty, worth, fairness, morals
- benevolencealtruism, benevolence, charity work, generosity, giving
- character buildingintegrity, resilience, self-discipline, confidence, sportsmanship
- compassionsympathy, empathy, caring, kindness, tenderness
- empathyempathy, sympathy, kindness, understanding, caring
- forgivenessforgiveness of sins, redemption, absolve, mercy, grace
compassionindifference
Lack of interest
cruelty · callousness · apathy · coldheartedness · cold-heartedness
compassioncruelty
Deliberate harm-causing disposition
mercilessness · brutality · inhumanity · pitilessness · hard-heartedness
- compassion fatigueEmotional depletion from overexposure
- compassionate careSupport given with empathy
- divine compassionHoly empathy for mortals
- compassionate leaveAbsence for family crisis
- Christian compassionReligiously motivated mercy
- compassionate releaseEarly discharge for dying inmates
compassionate, compassions, compassionately, compassionless, uncompassionate, compassionateness