condolence

noun

Definition of condolencenext
as in sympathy
a feeling or expression of care and sadness especially when someone is suffering because of the death of a family member, a friend, etc. The governor issued a statement of condolence to the victims' families. a letter of condolence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the noun condolence contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of condolence are commiseration, compassion, pity, and sympathy. While all these words mean "the act or capacity for sharing the painful feelings of another," condolence applies chiefly to formal expression of grief to one who has suffered loss.

expressed their condolences to the widow

When can commiseration be used instead of condolence?

In some situations, the words commiseration and condolence are roughly equivalent. However, commiseration suggests pity expressed outwardly in exclamations, tears, or words of comfort.

murmurs of commiseration filled the loser's headquarters

When would compassion be a good substitute for condolence?

The meanings of compassion and condolence largely overlap; however, compassion implies pity coupled with an urgent desire to aid or to spare.

treats the homeless with great compassion

In what contexts can pity take the place of condolence?

While in some cases nearly identical to condolence, pity implies tender or sometimes slightly contemptuous sorrow for one in misery or distress.

felt pity for the captives

When could sympathy be used to replace condolence?

The words sympathy and condolence can be used in similar contexts, but sympathy often suggests a tender concern but can also imply a power to enter into another's emotional experience of any sort.

went to my best friend for sympathy
in sympathy with her desire to locate her natural parents

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of condolence Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences and also attributed the attack to India without providing evidence. —Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 21 May 2025 Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez released a statement on social media Thursday expressing condolences to Santana’s loved ones. —Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 May 2025 Muriel Bowser Muriel Bowser addressed the shootings in a press conference, sending her condolences to the families of the victims. —Callum Sutherland, Time, 22 May 2025 Several people sent the couple their condolences in the comment section. —Charna Flam, People.com, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for condolence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for condolence
  1. sympathy
  2. regret
Noun
  • Infused with equal parts outrage and sympathy, the song is a must-listen in these trying times.
    — Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 30 May 2025
  • Alternately, his tone was infused with contempt, sarcasm or genuine sympathy for his subjects who had been victims of brutality unleashed by the Gestapo or secret police of the Vichy regime.
    — David Anderson, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Definition of sympathy
Noun
  • His ability to write across the ensemble turns the family into an unforgettable organism, pulsing with sadness and regret and a small, late-breaking surge of scrappy resilience.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 7 June 2025
  • But with time, the actor has learned to communicate decades of regret and the darkest emotional headspace with barely a flicker of his face.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 June 2025
Definition of regret

Browse Nearby Words

condoled (with)
condolence
condoles
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Cite this Entry

“Condolence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/condolence. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of condolence for Spanish Speakers

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