How would you define "compassion"?

@NJChicaa (126731)
United States
March 18, 2026 2:40pm CST
I was reading some self-help stuff earlier today and a section was asking you to come up with your own definition of various words. After you developed yours you could then see what other people came up with. I thought the "compassion" one was interesting. How would YOU define it? ETA: I didn't post my definition on purpose because I wanted to see what others said first. My definition was "Trying to be understanding of someone's situation without judgement."
6 people like this
7 responses
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (95573)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 Mar
I would say when you show you care and empathize with someone and can feel what they are going through,
2 people like this
Jimbo45
@Ineeddentures (23166)
•
18 Mar
Oh this one is easy for me as I am a very compassionate person Compassion is the emotional response where one feels concern for the suffering of others and is motivated to help alleviate that suffering. It involves sensitivity to others' distress and a desire to take action to support them. That sums me up in a nutshell
2 people like this
Amber
@AmbiePam (115671)
• United States
18 Mar
I guess I would say compassion is showing caring even when you don’t understand the circumstances.
2 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (170500)
• United States
18 Mar
I would say the understanding that another person was suffering and wanting to help them and maybe being able to help them with the problem.
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LindaOH
@LindaOHio (217021)
• United States
19 Mar
Having empathy and sympathy for someone's situation.
1 person likes this
B
@pitsipeahie (5579)
•
19 Mar
Compassion, to me, is being able to genuinely understand and care about what someone else is going through. And it don't just end there, it’s not just a feeling, like feeling sorry for someone, it’s actually wanting to do something, help in some way, even in small gestures.
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Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (56201)
•
19 Mar
Compassion...and yes, it is hard to describe. Compassion is caring that someone is hurting in some way, and the person wants to help in some way--at least I think that's the way I can generalize it. It's sort of a treat others how you wish to be treated thing.
1 person likes this