- when intr, usually followed by with: to feel or express sympathy or compassion (for)
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
com•mis•er•ate /kəˈmɪzəˌreɪt/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + with + object], -at•ed, -at•ing.
com•mis•er•a•tor, n. [countable]See -miser-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to feel, express, or share sorrow; sympathize:I commiserated with him over the loss of his mother.
com•mis•er•a•tor, n. [countable]See -miser-.
com•mis•er•ate
(kə miz′ə rāt′),USA pronunciation v., -at•ed, -at•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
com•mis′er•a•ble, adj.
com•mis′er•a′tion, n.
com•mis′er•a′tive, adj.
com•mis′er•a′tive•ly, adv.
com•mis′er•a′tor, n.
v.t.
- to feel or express sorrow or sympathy for;
empathize with;
pity.
v.i.
- to sympathize (usually fol. by with):They commiserated with him over the loss of his job.
- Latin commiserātus (past participle of commiserārī), equivalent. to com- com- + miser pitiable (see misery) + -ātus -ate1
- 1585–95
com•mis′er•a′tion, n.
com•mis′er•a′tive, adj.
com•mis′er•a′tive•ly, adv.
com•mis′er•a′tor, n.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
commiserate /kəˈmɪzəˌreɪt/ vb
'commiserate' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):