atone

verb

Definition of atonenext
as in to apologize

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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 atone Husayn’s Kufan supporters acknowledged their failure to aid the imam and pledged to publicly atone. — Mary Thurlkill, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026 For decades after the war, Germany’s attempts to atone for that history through a deep commitment to pacifism obliged defense companies to keep a low profile, avoiding sponsorships and splashy ad campaigns. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026 And Germany specifically has rather strict speech laws that strongly limit criticism of Israel, part of Germany’s attempts to atone for its central role in the Holocaust. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026 Yet this movie is great enough to atone. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for atone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atone
  1. apologize
  2. confess
  3. palliate
  4. excuse
  5. whitewash
  6. justify
  7. rationalize
Verb
  • Nacua apologized, but after the Rams’ loss to the Seahawks a few days later, Nacua criticized officials in a social media post from the locker room.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
  • While speaking on his own behalf, Trent Porter apologized to the court.
    — Mary Lyle, Arkansas Online, 22 July 2026
Definition of apologize
Verb
  • Skalnik would then tell investigators that this person had confessed their crime to him.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
  • Heinrich confessed to abducting, assaulting and killing Jacob.
    — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 17 July 2026
Definition of confess
Verb
  • Radiation can also be used to palliate painful bone metastases, as well as chemotherapy.
    — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 1 Oct. 2024
  • Senior-home avatars who are designed to palliate dementia patients in their darkest days.
    — Longreads, Longreads, 12 Apr. 2024
Definition of palliate
Verb
  • Everyone was happy to see Tim Ream excused his yellow card and Miguel Almiron cautioned for diving, including me.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • The 49ers’ secondary struggled to make plays last season, and while an anemic pass rush didn’t help, that can’t excuse a lack of production.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 21 July 2026
Definition of excuse
Verb
  • Critics have warned that the new panels replacing the ones exhibited since 2010 whitewash the history of slavery.
    — Corey Williams, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • Sant Pol de Mar swaps crowded stretches of sand for quieter coves, whitewashed buildings and a noticeably calmer atmosphere than Barcelona.
    — Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Definition of whitewash
Verb
  • There was contact across the Mexican’s face, but nowhere near enough to justify a red card for violent conduct.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • The district attorney did not file charges against police in that incident, determining the officer was justified.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
Definition of justify
Verb
  • It’s used to rationalize the Electoral College because should Wyoming have as much electoral power as Illinois?
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
  • While a cloud business may result in an even greater internal capacity constraint, the move provides the hedge the company needs to rationalize its spending.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 8 July 2026
Definition of rationalize

Browse Nearby Words

at once
atone
atoned
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Cite this Entry

“Atone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atone. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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