commiserate

verb

com·​mis·​er·​ate kə-ˈmi-zə-ˌrāt How to pronounce commiserate (audio)
commiserated; commiserating

intransitive verb

: to feel or express sympathy : condole
commiserates with them on their loss

transitive verb

: to feel or express sorrow or compassion for
commiseratingly adverb
commiseration noun
commiserative adjective

Examples of commiserate in a Sentence

"Did you enjoy your breakfast?" "The eggs were runny." "I know." The woman commiserated. "I was thinking, I should just have barged into the kitchen and done them myself." Alice Munro, Runaway, (2004) 2005
The other potters seemed to slump as one into dejection, all but abandoning their work in favor of long, lugubrious visits to the wine shop, where they commiserated with one another. Linda Sue Park, A Single Shard, (2001) 2003
"I been readin' about it," she said, referring to the recent breakup of my marriage.  … "It's too bad," she commiserated. Arthur Miller, Timebends, 1987
The pain of losing is diverting. So is the thrill of winning. Winning, however, is lonelier, because those you've taken money from are not apt to commiserate with you. David Mamet, New York Times Magazine, 20 Apr. 1986
The players commiserated over their loss in the championship game.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The morning the race was called, Hunter texted a few friends to make plans to get together and commiserate, cry, laugh. Allie Volpe, Vox, 11 Nov. 2024 Fort Lauderdale is about to lose one of its longest-running drinking, dining and dancing venues — the Historic Downtowner and Maxwell Ballroom — which for decades welcomed patrons who sought to celebrate, commiserate or just chill out on the south bank of the New River. David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2024 What follows is a lovely back-and-forth, with the two commiserating about all the ways the world has done them wrong. Marah Eakin, Vulture, 27 June 2024 In her comment section, other people commiserated over how their IUD insertions had brought the worst pain of their lives. Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for commiserate 

Word History

Etymology

Latin commiseratus, past participle of commiserari, from com- + miserari to pity, from miser wretched

First Known Use

circa 1584, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of commiserate was circa 1584

Dictionary Entries Near commiserate

Cite this Entry

“Commiserate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commiserate. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

commiserate

verb
com·​mis·​er·​ate kə-ˈmiz-ə-ˌrāt How to pronounce commiserate (audio)
commiserated; commiserating
: to feel or express sorrow or sympathy : sympathize
commiseration noun

More from Merriam-Webster on commiserate

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