Commiserative

/kəˈmɪzərətɪv/ adjective

Definition

Expressing or showing sympathy and sorrow for someone's misfortune; characterized by commiseration.

Etymology

From commiserate plus the adjectival suffix -ive. Follows the pattern of converting verb forms to adjective forms in English.

Kelly Says

A 'commiserative smile' is different from a pitying one—it says 'I understand and feel alongside you' rather than 'I feel sorry for you,' which is why tone matters so much in sympathy.

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