atones (for)

Definition of atones (for)next
present tense third-person singular of atone (for)
as in compensates
to make up for (an offense) tried to atone for forgetting their anniversary by giving his wife a truly extravagant gift

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for atones (for)
Verb
  • The Somogyi Effect If your blood sugar gets low at night, your body compensates by making more blood sugar.
    Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 4 Mar. 2026
  • However, research findings are mixed, and not everyone compensates by eating more.
    Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • In many ways, an athlete who redeems herself is far more relatable than one who simply dominates her sport from one Olympic cycle to the next.
    Frederick Dreier, Outside, 18 Feb. 2026
  • What redeems him, at least in the reader’s eyes, is Catherine’s love.
    New York Times, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The Creature repays the favor by using his strength to free the ship from its icy prison.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Jan. 2026
  • The city repays the bondholders over time, plus interest, using property taxes.
    Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In this scenario, stripped of high-paying salaries, prime borrowers default and tank the $13 trillion residential mortgage market, unemployment spikes above 10%, the stock market corrects down 38%, and the economy collapses into a deflationary spiral.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
  • The answer is a combination of ingredients that corrects, prevents, and protects—not to mention the affordable price point.
    Erika Reals, InStyle, 27 Feb. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Atones (for).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atones%20%28for%29. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.

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