Compromise vs. Sacrifice — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 14, 2024
Compromise involves mutual concessions where each party gives up something to reach an agreement; sacrifice involves giving up something valued for the sake of other considerations.
Difference Between Compromise and Sacrifice
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Key Differences
Compromise is essentially about finding a middle ground where all parties involved make concessions or adjustments to their demands or expectations. This method is commonly used in negotiations or conflicts where reaching a mutually acceptable solution is necessary. On the other hand, sacrifice entails one party giving up something valuable or desired to benefit another person or to achieve a greater good. This often does not involve a reciprocal action from the other party.
In a compromise, the focus is on achieving an outcome that, although not ideal for all, is acceptable to each party. For instance, in a workplace setting, employees might compromise on project roles to ensure that each person's skills are utilized effectively while maintaining team harmony. Whereas, sacrifice might see one employee taking on less desirable tasks consistently to ensure the project's success, prioritizing the team or project outcome over personal preferences.
Compromise can often lead to solutions where both parties feel they have gained something or at least have not lost out significantly. This approach can strengthen relationships because it is based on mutual respect and understanding. Conversely, sacrifice might involve a significant loss for one party, which can sometimes lead to resentment if the sacrifice is not acknowledged or reciprocated.
While compromise is generally a strategic approach used to resolve differences by making adjustments, sacrifice is more about a unilateral contribution to a cause or another person’s welfare. In personal relationships, this might manifest as one partner compromising on dinner choices, while the other might sacrifice their personal time to support their partner’s career.
Compromise requires open communication and a willingness to adjust one’s stance, promoting a cooperative environment. Sacrifice, however, often involves a deeper emotional or value-driven decision, reflecting commitment and depth in a relationship or cause.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
An agreement made by mutual concessions.
Forgoing something valuable for others' benefit.
Involvement
Both parties actively participate.
Usually involves one party.
Outcome
Mutually acceptable solution.
One-sided benefit, often not reciprocated.
Relationship Impact
Can strengthen relationships through cooperation.
May cause strain if perceived as unequal.
Typical Context
Negotiations, disputes resolution.
Personal decisions, altruistic actions.
Compare with Definitions
Compromise
An intermediate state between conflicting alternatives reached by mutual concession.
The couple found a compromise between city and rural life by moving to the suburbs.
Sacrifice
The act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.
She made a significant sacrifice leaving her job to care for her elderly parents.
Compromise
The acceptance of standards that are lower than is desirable.
He felt uncomfortable with the compromise of his principles.
Sacrifice
Sacrifice is the offering of material possessions or the lives of animals or humans to a deity as an act of propitiation or worship. Evidence of ritual animal sacrifice has been seen at least since ancient Hebrew and Greeks, and possibly existed before that.
Compromise
To expose or make vulnerable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute.
The email hack compromised the company's security.
Sacrifice
The act of offering something to a deity in propitiation or homage, especially the ritual slaughter of an animal or a person.
Compromise
To compromise is to make a deal between different parties where each party gives up part of their demand. In arguments, compromise is a concept of finding agreement through communication, through a mutual acceptance of terms—often involving variations from an original goal or desires.
Sacrifice
A victim offered in this way.
Compromise
An agreement or settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions
Eventually they reached a compromise
The secret of a happy marriage is compromise
Sacrifice
The act of giving up something highly valued for the sake of something else considered to have a greater value or claim
Social activism often involves tremendous sacrifice.
Compromise
The expedient acceptance of standards that are lower than is desirable
Sexism should be tackled without compromise
Sacrifice
Something given up in this way.
Compromise
Settle a dispute by mutual concession
In the end we compromised and deferred the issue
Sacrifice
Relinquishment of something at less than its presumed value.
Compromise
Expediently accept standards that are lower than is desirable
We were not prepared to compromise on safety
Sacrifice
Something so relinquished.
Compromise
Bring into disrepute or danger by indiscreet, foolish, or reckless behaviour
Situations in which his troops could be compromised
Sacrifice
A loss so sustained.
Compromise
A settlement of differences in which each side makes concessions.
Sacrifice
(Baseball) A sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly.
Compromise
The result of such a settlement.
Sacrifice
To offer as a sacrifice to a deity.
Compromise
Something that combines qualities or elements of different things
The incongruous design is a compromise between high tech and early American.
Sacrifice
To give up (one thing) for another thing considered to be of greater value.
Compromise
A weakening or reduction of one's principles or standards
A compromise of morality.
Sacrifice
To sell or give away at a loss.
Compromise
Impairment, as by disease or injury
Physiological compromise.
Sacrifice
To kill (an animal) for purposes of scientific research or experimentation.
Compromise
To arrive at a settlement by making concessions.
Sacrifice
To offer a sacrifice
The Greek warriors sacrificed to their gods.
Compromise
To reduce the quality, value, or degree of something, such as one's ideals.
Sacrifice
To make a sacrifice
Parents sacrificing for their children.
Compromise
To expose or make liable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute
A secret mission that was compromised and had to be abandoned.
Sacrifice
(Baseball) To make a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly.
Compromise
To reduce in quality, value, or degree; weaken or lower
Don't compromise your standards.
Sacrifice
(ambitransitive) To offer (something) as a gift to a deity.
Compromise
To impair, as by disease or injury
An immune system that was compromised by a virus.
Sacrifice
(transitive) To give away (something valuable) to get at least a possibility of gaining something else of value (such as self-respect, trust, love, freedom, prosperity), or to avoid an even greater loss.
Compromise
To settle by mutual concessions
A dispute that was compromised.
Sacrifice
(transitive) To trade (a value of higher worth) for something of lesser worth in order to gain something else valued more, such as an ally or business relationship, or to avoid an even greater loss; to sell without profit to gain something other than money.
Compromise
The settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions.
Sacrifice
To intentionally give up (a piece) in order to improve one’s position on the board.
Compromise
A committal to something derogatory or objectionable; a prejudicial concession; a surrender.
A compromise of character or right
Sacrifice
To advance (a runner on base) by batting the ball so it can be fielded, placing the batter out, but with insufficient time to put the runner out.
Compromise
(computer security) A breach of a computer or network's rules such that an unauthorized disclosure or loss of sensitive information may have occurred, or the unauthorized disclosure or loss itself.
Sacrifice
To sell at a price less than the cost or actual value.
Compromise
(ambitransitive) To bind by mutual agreement.
Sacrifice
To destroy; to kill.
Compromise
To adjust and settle by mutual concessions; to compound.
Sacrifice
(medicine) To kill a test animal for autopsy.
Compromise
(intransitive) To find a way between extremes.
Sacrifice
The offering of anything to a god; a consecratory rite.
Compromise
To pledge by some act or declaration; to endanger the life, reputation, etc., of, by some act which can not be recalled; to expose to suspicion.
Sacrifice
The destruction or surrender of anything for the sake of something else; the devotion of something desirable to something higher, or to a calling deemed more pressing.
The sacrifice of one's spare time in order to volunteer
Compromise
(transitive) To cause impairment of.
Sacrifice
(baseball) A play in which the batter is intentionally out so that one or more runners can advance around the bases.
Compromise
(transitive) To breach (a security system).
They tried to compromise the security in the computer by guessing the password.
Sacrifice
Something sacrificed.
Compromise
A mutual agreement to refer matters in dispute to the decision of arbitrators.
Sacrifice
A loss of profit.
Compromise
A settlement by arbitration or by mutual consent reached by concession on both sides; a reciprocal abatement of extreme demands or rights, resulting in an agreement.
But basely yielded upon compromiseThat which his noble ancestors achieved with blows.
All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter.
An abhorrence of concession and compromise is a never failing characteristic of religious factions.
Sacrifice
A sale at a price less than the cost or the actual value.
Compromise
A committal to something derogatory or objectionable; a prejudicial concession; a surrender; as, a compromise of character or right.
I was determined not to accept any fine speeches, to the compromise of that sex the belonging to which was, after all, my strongest claim and title to them.
Sacrifice
The offering of anything to God, or to a god; consecratory rite.
Great pomp, and sacrifice, and praises loud,To Dagon.
Compromise
To bind by mutual agreement; to agree.
Laban and himself were compromisedThat all the eanlings which were streaked and piedShould fall as Jacob's hire.
Sacrifice
Anything consecrated and offered to God, or to a divinity; an immolated victim, or an offering of any kind, laid upon an altar, or otherwise presented in the way of religious thanksgiving, atonement, or conciliation.
Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with bloodOf human sacrifice.
My life, if thou preserv'st my life,Thy sacrifice shall be.
Compromise
To adjust and settle by mutual concessions; to compound.
The controversy may easily be compromised.
Sacrifice
Destruction or surrender of anything for the sake of something else; devotion of some desirable object in behalf of a higher object, or to a claim deemed more pressing; hence, also, the thing so devoted or given up; as, the sacrifice of interest to pleasure, or of pleasure to interest.
Compromise
To pledge by some act or declaration; to endanger the life, reputation, etc., of, by some act which can not be recalled; to expose to suspicion.
To pardon all who had been compromised in the late disturbances.
Sacrifice
A sale at a price less than the cost or the actual value.
Compromise
To agree; to accord.
Sacrifice
To make an offering of; to consecrate or present to a divinity by way of expiation or propitiation, or as a token acknowledgment or thanksgiving; to immolate on the altar of God, in order to atone for sin, to procure favor, or to express thankfulness; as, to sacrifice an ox or a sheep.
Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid.
Compromise
To make concession for conciliation and peace.
Sacrifice
Hence, to destroy, surrender, or suffer to be lost, for the sake of obtaining something; to give up in favor of a higher or more imperative object or duty; to devote, with loss or suffering.
Condemned to sacrifice his childish yearsTo babbling ignorance, and to empty fears.
The Baronet had sacrificed a large sum . . . for the sake of . . . making this boy his heir.
Compromise
A middle way between two extremes
Sacrifice
To destroy; to kill.
Compromise
An accommodation in which both sides make concessions;
The newly elected congressmen rejected a compromise because they considered it `business as usual'
Sacrifice
To sell at a price less than the cost or the actual value.
Compromise
Make a compromise; arrive at a compromise;
Nobody will get everything he wants; we all must compromise
Sacrifice
To make offerings to God, or to a deity, of things consumed on the altar; to offer sacrifice.
O teacher, some great mischief hath befallenTo that meek man, who well had sacrificed.
Compromise
Settle by concession
Sacrifice
The act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.
Compromise
Expose or make liable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute;
The nuclear secrets of the state were compromised by the spy
Sacrifice
Personnel that are sacrificed (e.g., surrendered or lost in order to gain an objective)
Compromise
A settlement of differences by mutual concessions.
The union and management reached a compromise on the wage increase.
Sacrifice
A loss entailed by giving up or selling something at less than its value;
He had to sell his car at a considerable sacrifice
Compromise
The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes they received the largest piece.
To avoid conflict, they decided to compromise on the holiday destination.
Sacrifice
The act of killing (an animal or person) in order to propitiate a deity
Sacrifice
(sacrifice) an out that advances the base runners
Sacrifice
Endure the loss of;
He gave his life for his children
I gave two sons to the war
Sacrifice
Kill or destroy;
The animals were sacrificed after the experiment
The general had to sacrifice several soldiers to save the regiment
Sacrifice
Sell at a loss
Sacrifice
Make a sacrifice of; in religious rituals
Sacrifice
A religious offering.
Ancient civilizations often performed sacrifices to appease their gods.
Sacrifice
Loss or something lost by sacrificing or giving up.
His sacrifice of time was worth it when he saw the project's success.
Sacrifice
To surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else.
He sacrificed his personal life to his career ambitions.
Common Curiosities
What is the main difference between compromise and sacrifice?
Compromise involves mutual concessions, while sacrifice involves one party giving up something valuable for another’s benefit.
Is sacrifice always voluntary?
Sacrifices are generally voluntary, but circumstances can sometimes force them.
Which is generally better for relationships, compromise or sacrifice?
Compromise is usually better for maintaining healthy relationships, as it involves mutual decision-making.
Why is compromise important in negotiations?
It helps reach a consensus where each party feels they have gained something, ensuring a sustainable agreement.
Can businesses benefit from either compromise or sacrifice?
Businesses benefit from compromises in negotiations, while sacrifices can be seen in CSR activities.
How does one achieve a successful compromise?
Through effective communication, understanding all parties' needs, and being willing to adjust one's demands.
How does one decide whether to compromise or sacrifice?
This depends on the situation, relationship dynamics, and what is at stake.
Can a compromise involve sacrifice?
Yes, compromises can involve small sacrifices but are primarily about adjustments rather than significant losses.
Can sacrifice lead to negative feelings?
Yes, if sacrifices are not reciprocated or appreciated, they can lead to resentment.
Is it possible to achieve a good outcome without either compromise or sacrifice?
Achieving good outcomes usually involves some level of compromise or sacrifice as it requires adjustments or giving up something.
What are examples of sacrifice in everyday life?
Parents often sacrifice sleep and personal time for the sake of their children’s care and wellbeing.
Are there cultural differences in how compromise and sacrifice are viewed?
Yes, cultural backgrounds can influence how individuals perceive and value compromise and sacrifice.
Can compromise be seen as a weakness?
In some cultures or contexts, compromise might be viewed as a weakness, though it is generally seen as a strategic approach.
What psychological effects can sacrifice have?
Depending on context and perception, sacrifice can boost self-esteem and satisfaction or cause stress and resentment.
What is the role of sacrifice in personal growth?
Sacrifice can lead to personal growth by prioritizing important aspects of life, such as family or career over lesser ones.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
