Definition:
sympathy is a noun typically used to express one's understanding, compassion, and feelings towards someone else in a given situation. It references an emotional alignment or understanding with someone else, usually during moments of pain or hardship.
Examples:
1. She radiated sympathy and understanding for her friend's plight.
2. Survivors of the accident felt nothing but sympathy for the victims' families.
3. My sympathy goes out to those impacted by the virus.
Tips:
be mindful of the terms used when expressing sympathy - using overly-pitying language can make the receiver uncomfortable or hurt, so opt for more supportive and more understanding words. An important note is that sympathy does not have to be in terms of pity - it can be in terms of admiration or support in a situation.