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simpatico

adjective
sim·​pa·​ti·​co | \ sim-ˈpä-ti-ˌkō How to pronounce simpatico (audio) , -ˈpa-\

Definition of simpatico

1 : agreeable, likable The Bachelor Duke was a highly simpatico figure, kind, humane, civilized—qualities that it is often difficult to recapture in a historical biography.— John Martin Robinson
2 : having shared qualities, interests, etc. : like-minded, sympathetic These two artists are simpatico. Carlson, like Sorolla, works out-of-doors, directly from his subject …— Kay Mayer Andrea Sand's group of older mothers are simpatico because of their common age and experience.— Barbara Hey With the patronage of a simpatico Reagan, Casey took in hand a diminished CIA and molded it into a high-tech agency …— William L. Chaze et al.
Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about simpatico

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Did You Know?

Simpatico, which derives from the Greek noun sympatheia, meaning "sympathy," was borrowed into English from both Italian and Spanish. In those languages, the word has been chiefly used to describe people who are well-liked or easy to get along with; early uses of the word in English reflected this, as in Henry James's 1881 novel The Portrait of a Lady, in which a character says of another's dying cousin, "Ah, he was so simpatico. I’m awfully sorry for you." In recent years, however, the word's meaning has shifted. Now we see it used to describe the relationship between people who get along well or work well together.

Examples of simpatico in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 There are also simpatico musicians, like Emmylou Harris and John Hiatt. — Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, "‘The King’ takes Elvis’s Rolls-Royce for a ride," 11 July 2018 With Bungie came 2001 sci-fi shooter Halo: Combat Evolved and its instantly simpatico protagonist, Master Chief. — SI.com, "The 15 Most Influential Video Game Characters of All Time," 4 July 2017 With Bungie came 2001 sci-fi shooter Halo: Combat Evolved and its instantly simpatico protagonist, Master Chief. — SI.com, "The 15 Most Influential Video Game Characters of All Time," 4 July 2017 With Bungie came 2001 sci-fi shooter Halo: Combat Evolved and its instantly simpatico protagonist, Master Chief. — SI.com, "The 15 Most Influential Video Game Characters of All Time," 4 July 2017 With Bungie came 2001 sci-fi shooter Halo: Combat Evolved and its instantly simpatico protagonist, Master Chief. — SI.com, "The 15 Most Influential Video Game Characters of All Time," 4 July 2017 With Bungie came 2001 sci-fi shooter Halo: Combat Evolved and its instantly simpatico protagonist, Master Chief. — Lisa Eadicicco, Time, "The 15 Most Influential Video Game Characters," 30 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'simpatico.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of simpatico

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for simpatico

Italian simpatico & Spanish simpático, ultimately from Latin sympathia sympathy

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