Synonyms of remunerate

remunerate

verb

ri-ˈmyü-nə-ˌrāt 

1

as in to compensate

to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received

promptly remunerated the repair company for fixing the dryer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• compensate
• pay
• repay
• reimburse
• recompense
• refund
• remit
• requite
• pay off
• prepay
• pay up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stiff

2

as in to reimburse

to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury

the negligent landlord must remunerate those made homeless by the fire by finding new housing for them at his own expense

Synonyms & Similar Words

• compensate
• reimburse
• satisfy
• indemnify
• pay
• recoup
• repay
• recompense
• requite
• refund
• redress
• remedy
• repair
• discharge
• quit

Synonym Chooser

How is the word remunerate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of remunerate are compensate, indemnify, pay, recompense, reimburse, repay, and satisfy. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," 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 compensate be used to replace remunerate?

The synonyms compensate and remunerate are sometimes interchangeable, but compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

When can indemnify be used instead of remunerate?

While in some cases nearly identical to remunerate, indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

When is it sensible to use pay instead of remunerate?

Although the words pay and remunerate have much in common, pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

When would recompense be a good substitute for remunerate?

The words recompense and remunerate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

When might reimburse be a better fit than remunerate?

The words reimburse and remunerate can be used in similar contexts, but reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

When is repay a more appropriate choice than remunerate?

In some situations, the words repay and remunerate are roughly equivalent. However, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

In what contexts can satisfy take the place of remunerate?

The meanings of satisfy and remunerate largely overlap; however, satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

all creditors will be satisfied in full

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of remunerate

But the allowance does recognize a fact of family life that tends to go unacknowledged in the United States: that the contributions of older people are essential labor that deserves to be remunerated. —Marina Lopes, The Atlantic, 6 Oct. 2025

People who work in the system have struggled to get covered and supported and remunerated for their work. —Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 23 July 2025

These professionals are remunerated highly to use data and facts to make the right calls for the sake of the bank’s profits. —Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025

This will also have business implications: Artists can be remunerated based on their training data, which might be an improvement over the hip-hop business models of the past and present. —C. Brandon Ogbunu, WIRED, 21 Dec. 2024