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Sympathize vs Supportive - What's the difference?

sympathize | supportive |

As a verb sympathize

is to show sympathy; to be affected by feelings similar to those of another, in consequence of knowing the person to be thus affected.

As an adjective supportive is

providing support.

sympathize

English

Verb

(North America)
  • To show sympathy; to be affected by feelings similar to those of another, in consequence of knowing the person to be thus affected.
  • * Addison
    • Their countrymen sympathized with their heroes in all their adventures.
  • To have a common feeling, as of bodily pleasure or pain.
  • * Buckminster
    • The mind will sympathize so much with the anguish and debility of the body, that it will be too distracted to fix itself in meditation.
  • To agree; to be in accord; to harmonize.
    • (Dryden)

    Usage notes

    Used similarly to empathize, interchangeably in looser usage. In stricter usage, (term) is stronger and more intimate, while sympathize is weaker and more distant; see . Further, the general “agree, accord” sense of sympathize is not shared with (term).

    supportive

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Providing support.
    • I had a very supportive coach who helped me.

    Antonyms

    * unsupportive