Gerund Word Explorer
Misleading word

Sympathetic

Sympathetic

Kind and understanding towards someone's trouble.

The teacher was sympathetic when Priya's science model broke.

Not this

Nice, likeable or pleasant.

✗ The new shopkeeper is very sympathetic and always smiles.

Remember: Sympathy = sharing feelings. For likeable, say 'friendly' or 'pleasant'. In some European languages, a similar word means likeable.

Short lessonMisleading wordsSome words mean something quite different from what they seem to say.

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