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
  • Altman also apologized to the Tumbler Ridge community in a letter in April.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
  • Howard’s mother, Allison, also addressed the court and called out Metz for not apologizing or taking responsibility for the shooting.
    — Katie Langford, Denver Post, 7 July 2026
Definition of apologize
Verb
  • On Friday, Wardlaw confessed to the stabbing, Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Robert Bleazard said.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 14 July 2026
  • Sochor confessed to the crime, but her body has never been found − still a torment to her family.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 11 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
  • Plus, any money owed to the landlord must either be paid or excused with the agreement of the landlord.
    — Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
  • And if hydration breaks open the (excuse the pun) floodgates for more ad inventory, then the sport inherently becomes a more valuable entity than non-World Cup action has been to-date.
    — John Cassillo, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of excuse
Verb
  • 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
  • Clark accused some board members of whitewashing history after Young amended the curriculum to remove one definition of slavery for third-graders, citing redundancy.
    — Rachel Royster. Produced with AI assistance, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2026
Definition of whitewash
Verb
  • Duke then justified its presence in the ACC championship by beating Virginia 27-20 in overtime.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026
  • But that valuation is justified given CAVA’s strong qualitative fundamentals, such as recent menu innovations and high customer loyalty, leaving the stock attractive, Morgan Stanley said.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 15 July 2026
Definition of justify
Verb
  • 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
  • In essence, when education is experienced merely as a series of bureaucratic obstacles to overcome rather than opportunities for growth, cheating becomes easier to rationalize.
    — Jason Benedict, Fortune, 7 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 17 Jul. 2026.

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