Synonyms of compensate

compensate 1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈkäm-pən-ˌsāt 

1

as in to reimburse

to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury

you'll have to compensate the neighbors for cutting down their tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reimburse
• satisfy
• pay
• recoup
• repay
• remunerate
• indemnify
• recompense
• requite
• refund
• redress
• remedy
• repair
• discharge
• quit

2

as in to pay

to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received

compensate them well for their efforts

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pay
• reimburse
• repay
• remunerate
• refund
• recompense
• pay up
• remit
• prepay
• pay off
• requite

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stiff

compensate (for)

2 of 2

verb (2)

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

• offset
• correct
• make up (for)
• neutralize
• cancel (out)
• outweigh
• counteract
• counterbalance
• relieve
• annul
• atone (for)
• remedy
• negative
• counterpoise
• invalidate
• redeem
• nullify
• redress
• negate
• neuter
• overrule
• override
• outbalance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of compensate

Verb

With Herro ambulatory, there was the easier-to-digest possibility of moving Norman Powell for draft capital and then turning to the scoring of Herro to compensate. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026

However, post Covid, growth began to decelerate, margins did not come up meaningfully to compensate, and the stock fell accordingly, trading as low as roughly $61 in December 2022. —Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2026

Indeed, politicians sometimes fuel spending and inflation by sending people checks to compensate for past inflation. —Raghuram Rajan, Time, 23 Jan. 2026

The failure was that Napster moved faster than anyone could figure out how to compensate the people who made the music. —John Acunto, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026

Phrases Containing compensate

• compensate (for)