as in reparation
an act taken in order to redeem oneself
He resolved to make atonement to those he had wronged by doing good deeds for them.
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Recent Examples of atonement
Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, is considered the holiest day of the Jewish year and is one of two High Holy Days, along with Rosh Hashanah, according to the University of Southern California and Henry Ford College.
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Melina Khan, USA Today, 14 Dec. 2025
Why no mumblings of atonement for the predatory nature of capitalism itself, its core values and standard operating procedures no different from those of the beasts in the field?
—Henry Freedland, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The incident, being investigated as a terrorist attack, took place on Yom Kippur, the Jewish calendar’s day of atonement and fasting.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 3 Oct. 2025
It is traditionally marked by fasting, repentance and prayer, as worshippers seek atonement and spiritual renewal.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atonement
Melina Khan, USA Today, 14 Dec. 2025
Why no mumblings of atonement for the predatory nature of capitalism itself, its core values and standard operating procedures no different from those of the beasts in the field?
—Henry Freedland, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The incident, being investigated as a terrorist attack, took place on Yom Kippur, the Jewish calendar’s day of atonement and fasting.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 3 Oct. 2025
It is traditionally marked by fasting, repentance and prayer, as worshippers seek atonement and spiritual renewal.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atonement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atonement
Noun
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Advancing a tax on Delta-8 products could boost readily available funding for the dozens of Black residents who have filed reparations applications and are awaiting their payments, officials argue.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
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The full scope of these reparations remains unclear, and a specific dollar amount wasn’t noted.—
Justin Klawans,
TheWeek,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Honorable mention in the forgiveness category went to Judge Kathleen Coffey, founder of the Homeless Court at Boston’s Pine Street Inn.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
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To be eligible, you must have been employed with an eligible company during the SAVE plan pause and be close enough to forgiveness that making those payments would get you to 10 years, which is 120 months.—
Claire Rafford,
IndyStar,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Atonement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atonement. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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