Word of the Day: COMMISERATE

To pity or sympathize

commiserate (verb) - to feel or express sympathy, sorrow, or compassion for another’s misfortune [kuh-miz-uh-reyt]

BREAKDOWN: CO- (with) + MISER- (wretched) + -ATE (to make or do)

• commiseration is the act, state, or expression of sympathy or sorrow for someone

• commiserative means feeling or showing sorrow for another’s distress

• commiserable means deserving of pity or sympathy

See also: measly

“We need to see people other than ourselves in order to empathize. It’s easy to demonize, or simply dismiss, people you don’t know or see... It’s nearly impossible to commiserate with the unseen and unknown.” —Charles Blow