commiserate

/kəˈmɪzəɹət/

Group 29Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(verb)
To express or feel sympathy or pity; to sympathize
GRE

Example in Context

Former rivals commiserated with the defeated candidate, recognizing the personal toll that the grueling campaign had exacted.

Synonyms

sympathizeconsoleempathize

Etymology

To come together to express pity or sympathy.

  • com- (Latin) — together
  • miserari (Latin) — to pity

Memory Aid

😢Sounds like “come misery rate

A group of friends saying 'COME, MISERY RATE!' as they gather to cry over a sad movie!

Visual Association

🤗A circle of friends hugging tightly, sharing tears and laughter over their shared misfortunes.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “commiserate” mean on the GRE?

commiserate (verb) means “To express or feel sympathy or pity; to sympathize”. Former rivals commiserated with the defeated candidate, recognizing the personal toll that the grueling campaign had exacted.

How to remember “commiserate” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “commiserate” sounds like “come misery rate”. A group of friends saying 'COME, MISERY RATE!' as they gather to cry over a sad movie!

What are synonyms for “commiserate”?

Common synonyms: sympathize, console, empathize.