To be empathetic means to truly care about others' feelings, not just pretending to care. He had an empathetic response to the news of his friend's illness.
Pro Tip 2/3
Not Pity
Empathy involves understanding others, not feeling sorry for them. After listening carefully, she gave an empathetic nod, showing she understood his situation.
Pro Tip 3/3
Emotional Depth
Using 'empathetic' implies deep emotional insight into another person's experience. His empathetic demeanor helped calm the distressed child.