COMPENSATE Synonyms: 20 Similar and Opposite Words

compensate

verb

ˈkäm-pən-ˌsāt

as in to reimburse

to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury you'll have to compensate the neighbors for cutting down their tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to pay

to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received compensate them well for their efforts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stiff

Synonym Chooser

How is the word compensate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of compensate are indemnify, pay, recompense, reimburse, remunerate, repay, and satisfy. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

When is it sensible to use indemnify instead of compensate?

Although the words indemnify and compensate have much in common, indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

When can pay be used instead of compensate?

The words pay and compensate can be used in similar contexts, but pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

Where would recompense be a reasonable alternative to compensate?

In some situations, the words recompense and compensate are roughly equivalent. However, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

In what contexts can reimburse take the place of compensate?

The synonyms reimburse and compensate are sometimes interchangeable, but reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

When would remunerate be a good substitute for compensate?

The words remunerate and compensate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, remunerate clearly suggests paying for services rendered and may extend to payment that is generous or not contracted for.

promised to remunerate the searchers handsomely

When could repay be used to replace compensate?

While the synonyms repay and compensate are close in meaning, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

When might satisfy be a better fit than compensate?

While in some cases nearly identical to compensate, satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

all creditors will be satisfied in full

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of compensate Jurors in Connecticut are compensated at a higher rate than many other parts of the country. —

Renata Daou, Hartford Courant, 16 Dec. 2024 However, that doesn’t compensate for the high sugar content in the cream and in the chocolate. —

Philipp Wehsack, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024 As Google and other sites dominate digital advertising, a recent effort in the California Legislature to force the tech companies to compensate news organizations stalled. —

James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024 Australia in 2021 passed laws to make the US tech giants, such as Alphabet’s Google and Meta, compensate media companies for the links that drive readers - and advertising revenue - to their platforms. —

Reuters, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for compensate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for compensate

Verb

However, according to this week’s charging documents, none of the money has been reimbursed.

Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 13 Dec. 2024
There has been a flood of people supporting Mangione on social media platforms, with some offering to pay his bills and a number of GoFundMe campaigns popping up to offer financial support (though GoFundMe told Fox Business the fundraisers violated policy, were removed and donors were reimbursed).

Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024