feeling sorry for
Expressing compassion toward
Feeling sorry for someone means experiencing sympathy or pity toward them because of their misfortune or suffering.
I can't help feeling sorry for anyone who has to work in this heat.
The phrase can also suggest condescension, implying the person deserves pity rather than respect.
When directed at oneself, feeling sorry for yourself typically carries negative connotations of excessive self-pity or wallowing in one's troubles rather than addressing them.
- consolingGiving solace to another
- pitySympathy for misfortune
- self pitySorrow over one's condition
- poor thingExpression of sympathetic pity
- compassionConcern for others' distress
empathy · crocodile tears · helping · rueful · regret · remorse · apologizing · making amends · comforting · shoulder to cry on · being there · commiseration · guilt · condolence · solidarity · understanding · forgiveness · supportiveness
feeling sorry forblaming
Assigning responsibility for wrongdoing
condemning · holding in contempt · judging · dismissing · reproaching
feeling sorry forschadenfreude
Delight in others' misfortune
mocking · deriding · despising · resenting · begrudging
feeling, feel, feels, feeler, feelings, sorry, sorriness, sorriest, sorrier