REDEEM Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'redeem' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of redeem are deliver , ransom , reclaim , rescue , and save . While all these words mean "to set free from confinement or danger," redeem implies releasing from bondage or penalties by giving what is demanded or necessary. // job training designed to redeem school dropouts from chronic unemployment

Q: When is 'deliver' a more appropriate choice than 'redeem'?

The words deliver and redeem can be used in similar contexts, but deliver implies release usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering. // delivered his people from bondage

Q: When can 'ransom' be used instead of 'redeem'?

Although the words ransom and redeem have much in common, ransom specifically applies to buying out of captivity. // tried to ransom the kidnap victim

Q: When might 'reclaim' be a better fit than 'redeem'?

The synonyms reclaim and redeem are sometimes interchangeable, but reclaim suggests a bringing back to a former state or condition of someone or something abandoned or debased. // reclaimed long-abandoned farms

Q: When would 'rescue' be a good substitute for 'redeem'?

While in some cases nearly identical to redeem , rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action. // rescued the crew of a sinking ship

Q: In what contexts can 'save' take the place of 'redeem'?

The words save and redeem are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, save may replace any of the foregoing terms; it may further imply a preserving or maintaining for usefulness or continued existence. // an operation that saved my life

redeem

verb

ri-ˈdēm

Definition of redeem

as in to fulfill

to do what is required by the terms of the Little League coach redeemed his promise to take the players out for ice cream if they improved their fielding over the season

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to save

to free from captivity or punishment by paying a price the government has consistently refused to redeem hostages captured by terrorists

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to forgive

to free from the penalties or consequences of sin the belief that sinners are redeemed by their faith in God

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to rehabilitate

to make better in behavior or character the unfaithful husband made a determined effort to redeem himself in the eyes of his wife and children

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to compensate

to make up for (an offense) quickly redeemed the offending remark with a sincere and unconditional apology

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb redeem contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of redeem are deliver, ransom, reclaim, rescue, and save. While all these words mean "to set free from confinement or danger," redeem implies releasing from bondage or penalties by giving what is demanded or necessary.

job training designed to redeem school dropouts from chronic unemployment

When is deliver a more appropriate choice than redeem?

The words deliver and redeem can be used in similar contexts, but deliver implies release usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering.

delivered his people from bondage

When can ransom be used instead of redeem?

Although the words ransom and redeem have much in common, ransom specifically applies to buying out of captivity.

tried to ransom the kidnap victim

When might reclaim be a better fit than redeem?

The synonyms reclaim and redeem are sometimes interchangeable, but reclaim suggests a bringing back to a former state or condition of someone or something abandoned or debased.

reclaimed long-abandoned farms

When would rescue be a good substitute for redeem?

While in some cases nearly identical to redeem, rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action.

rescued the crew of a sinking ship

In what contexts can save take the place of redeem?

The words save and redeem are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, save may replace any of the foregoing terms; it may further imply a preserving or maintaining for usefulness or continued existence.

an operation that saved my life

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 redeem Protection extends to up to five personal devices under the Ultimate Personal Plan, along with priority email support, and both new and existing IsThisSpam users can redeem it. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 13 Sep. 2026 Rewards can be redeemed for bonus bets and used on the app for the arcades and other games. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2026 Hoping to redeem women’s tennis and bolster the women’s movement, King accepted his challenge. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026 The Italian coda is sweet, allowing Pariser to redeem the concept of love from the cynicism of a world wary of romance. — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for redeem

Recent Examples of Synonyms for redeem

Verb

Lawmakers’ growing reluctance to fulfill Hegseth’s eye-popping budget request reflects real intraparty concerns about his leadership, his relationship with Congress, and the ongoing war with Iran.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 28 Sep. 2026
On the Middle East conflict, the two leaders agreed that Iran should fulfil its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, and that no country or entity should impose transit tolls on international waterways.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of fulfill

Verb

Trump already faces opposition to the Iran war among many in his own Republican Party, but trying to find a face-saving way to end it quickly could anger allies, too.

— Robin Wright, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026
Many outsiders are looking to Herbert to save the franchise from an abysmal season not many projected.

— Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of save

Verb

Plans are moving forward with another project to rehabilitate a historic building in the West Bottoms with new housing as the district continues to transform.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026
The financier undertook a campaign to launder his reputation, spending millions — especially donating to scientific research projects — to rehabilitate his image.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of rehabilitate

Verb

In the past, the rebels have demanded the payment of public-sector wages in their areas using Yemen’s collective oil revenues, and that Saudi Arabia compensate the rebels for the war.

— Kareem Fahim, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
Furthermore, researchers are also investigating whether different device architectures and process techniques can compensate for limitations in lithography.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of compensate

Verb

Someone had come up with the idea of kidnapping Shergar and holdin' him to ransom.

— Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026
Bond is forced up against Blofeld (Telly Savalas), who has a plan to ransom the entire world, threatening the global food supply with biological agents designed to render crops and livestock infertile.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of ransom

Verb

Digitize your dusty DVDs and reclaim shelf space with DVDneXtCOPY, a powerful DVD ripper that preserves your collection.

— StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 26 Sep. 2026
By harnessing these tools, many clinicians report saving an hour per day on documentation, reducing after-hours work and reclaiming their personal time.

— Sameer Bhat, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of reclaim

Verb

The state budget, passed in July, threatened to make any local jurisdiction who voted to kill the project repay the North Carolina Department of Transportation for around $69 million the agency already spent on planning.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026
Much of the remaining $1 billion had been ordered as restitution, meant to repay victims’ losses.

— Caren Morrison, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of repay

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“Redeem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/redeem. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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