Is "I'm sorry to hear that" a dismissive phrase?

[Whiskaspie]

Getting a lot of that from dh atm. Whether it's about being late for something, kids being ill, being bored out of my tiny mind at home, or whatever. He doesn't really ask any follow up q, but will say something along the lines of "hope they feel better soon/hope you find something interesting to do" (as the topic fits), and leave it at that. I get that he has a job to do, but he also has numerous coffee/chat breaks, lunch, and train commutes in which it might be nice to text chat. We don't talk that much at home when he gets in because it's dinner/homework/bath/bed for kids, then he's on the computer.
I'm getting v tired of that phrase!

Yes

In that context, yes. Very.

A cloud no bigger than a woman's hand, but with with the potential to get MUCH bigger. Roast him lightly, and see what he does. The acceptable response is grovelling, anything else isn't.

To be fair, your topics of conversation sound pretty moany - if DH wanted to talk/text me during my work day to moan about being bored, I'd probably be pretty dismissive. I think you both need to have a proper conversation.

From your DH, it's a dismissive phrase.

It's the sort of phrase I'd use when I had sympathy with someone over a situation that I was detached from, could not affect and possibly didn't want to discuss in great detail - a colleague whose relative had died for instance.