pay 1 of 2

Definition of paynext
1
as in to compensate
to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received we need to pay the cashier and then we can leave

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to meet
to give what is owed for you ought to pay that bill before it's overdue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
as in to yield
to produce as revenue an investment paying six percent

Synonyms & Similar Words

5

pay

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word pay distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of pay are compensate, indemnify, recompense, reimburse, remunerate, repay, and satisfy. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

When might compensate be a better fit than pay?

The words compensate and pay are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

When can indemnify be used instead of pay?

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

indemnified the families of the dead miners

When would recompense be a good substitute for pay?

The meanings of recompense and pay largely overlap; however, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

When could reimburse be used to replace pay?

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

reimbursed employees for expenses

Where would remunerate be a reasonable alternative to pay?

In some situations, the words remunerate and pay are roughly equivalent. However, 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 is it sensible to use repay instead of pay?

While in some cases nearly identical to pay, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

When is satisfy a more appropriate choice than pay?

While the synonyms satisfy and pay are close in meaning, satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

all creditors will be satisfied in full

Example 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 pay
Verb
After the post-COVID inflation spike, farmers had to pay higher input costs, then saw prices for their crops tumble. Jason Ma, Fortune, 21 June 2026 Tetef paid $3,000 in rent, plus a $1,000 security deposit, to rent the Torrance mall space for a month, and got the keys on June 1. Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 21 June 2026
Noun
Currently, just 40% of borrowers are enrolled in auto pay — a figure the department is hoping to increase with the new incentive of the interest rate reduction. CBS News, 19 June 2026 Instead, the recent lawsuit describes the hospitals remaining in a financial freefall, cutting services and struggling to buy supplies, pay providers, and keep up with taxes and other bills. Michelle Marchante june 19, Miami Herald, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay
Verb
  • Powell’s release comes nearly one year into Georgia’s new system to compensate the wrongfully convicted.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 22 June 2026
  • When fibroblasts were lost, the ones that remained appeared to compensate.
    Peter Jurich, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Suarez also discussed the experience of joining one of baseball’s most storied organizations after departing Philadelphia, then watching as both teams failed to meet expectations to start the year.
    Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026
  • Trump made the threat on Sunday, even as Vice President JD Vance met Iranian officials in Switzerland for the first talks under the interim accord.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • As Kennedy and Bessette spend more time together and grow closer, her intimidation of the spotlight and fear of invasive paparazzi often create tension in their relationship, despite his attempts to calm the situation.
    Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 22 June 2026
  • Clare joins me now to share why readers are spending real time and money to live inside their favorite fictional stories.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • The study didn’t identify those schools, but Pennucci said colleges with higher graduation rates generally yielded higher earnings for their students.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • Arilje and its surroundings yield berries that are exported as far as the United States and Japan.
    ABC News, ABC News, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • In June 2025, the university also announced a hiring freeze and paused annual pay increases, citing uncertainty in funding sources.
    JT Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 26 June 2026
  • In April, Anthropic was also hiring for a data center deal sourcing role in the country.
    Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • While first-round picks are slotted into salaries through the NBA’s rookie scale, there isn’t as much structure with second-round selections.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026
  • Engineering and technical roles in data centers are particularly in demand due to a labour shortage, with salaries for these roles on the rise.
    Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • The communication reportedly did not seek payment and included language expressing remorse, a detail experts say is unusual in genuine ransom demands.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2026
  • For longtime customer Nita Lynch, who has banked with FirstBank since 1975, the merger has meant spending hours updating routing numbers, retirement accounts and automatic payments.
    Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • The development came as the district is working to close an unprecedented $170 million deficit and avoid state receivership, which would place the district under strict oversight while any emergency loan and interest are repaid.
    Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 22 June 2026
  • Who Is Actually Behind The Machine Names matter in a prospectus, and the names here repay a careful look.
    Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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