as in to compensate
to make up for (an offense)
tried to atone for forgetting their anniversary by giving his wife a truly extravagant gift
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atone (for)
Verb
-
Developers need to build AI systems that can recognize and compensate for their own biases.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025 -
To compensate for the decreased aroma from the tea leaves during the brewing process, magnolia leaves and olive oil are added to enhance the flavor, giving it a dose of freshness.—
Maggie Hiufu Wong,
CNN Money,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This series had no redeeming science value, but was pure unadulterated entertainment.—
Jim Clash,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Here’s how to claim your lottery prize All Michigan Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600.—
Detroit Free Press Staff,
Freep.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The new option is intended to replace several older programs that have allowed borrowers repay their student loans based on their income, with eventual student loan forgiveness after years in repayment.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
-
Weeks later, the U.S. envoy to Cambodia at the time emphasized that Cambodia should repay hundreds of millions of dollars in loans from the 1970s, originally given as food aid to the Lon Nol government.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Correction: This story has been updated to correct the total death toll.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
-
That’s something local governments can take steps to correct.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The Sisters have come a long way, but never strayed from their mission: to promulgate universal joy and expiate stigmatic guilt.—
Anita Chabria,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2023
-
But now Epstein, 49, is wearing a different hat, and hoping to expiate his unintended sins against a sport that has been his lifelong passion.—
David Axelrod,
CNN,
1 Apr. 2023
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.
Cite this Entry
“Atone (for).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atone%20%28for%29. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share