compensate (for)

verb

Definition of compensate (for)next
as in to offset
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective a mafioso thinking that he can compensate for the evil he's done by giving to charity

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for compensate (for)
  1. offset
  2. correct
  3. neutralize
Verb
  • But as luxury brands continue to offset a downturn in aspirational spending by engaging their VICs IRL, the Balich Wonder Studio chairman and creative director’s insights are, in fact, very helpful.
    — Ari Stark, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Supporters of Proposition 40 tried to convince voters that taxing roughly 200 billionaires would raise the $100 billion needed to offset federal healthcare cuts.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of offset
Verb
  • Without a mechanism to correct these errors, the inaccurate information could remain in the robot’s memory and affect subsequent decisions.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • An overconfident driver can follow too closely, carry too much speed into a curve or assume technology will correct a bad decision.
    — Chris Hardesty, AJC.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of correct
Verb
  • Engineered for both land and ship platforms, the system complements the proven ASTER missile family, reinforcing integrated air and missile defense architectures to neutralize emerging hypersonic threats.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Flavonoids help calm chronic inflammation by lowering pro-inflammatory chemicals, neutralizing free radicals, and boosting the body’s antioxidant defenses.
    — Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of neutralize
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.

Browse Nearby Words

compensated (for)
compensate (for)
compensates
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Compensate (for).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compensate%20%28for%29. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of wabi-sabi

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All