as in to pay
somewhat formal
to provide money for (something)
This will defray the costs.
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Recent Examples of defray
Adding bigger-ticket outdoor items ups the average order value, defraying some of those costs.
—
Preston Fore, Fortune, 2 July 2025
Photo : Gavin Cater Solar panels defray energy costs.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 14 June 2025
Abbott is also seeking $3.62 billion to defray costs for the National Guard deployment and $2.25 billion for the cost of keeping DPS troopers at the border.
—John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Even the most generous welfare states do very little to defray those costs.
—New York Times, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defray
Preston Fore, Fortune, 2 July 2025
Photo : Gavin Cater Solar panels defray energy costs.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 14 June 2025
Abbott is also seeking $3.62 billion to defray costs for the National Guard deployment and $2.25 billion for the cost of keeping DPS troopers at the border.
—John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Even the most generous welfare states do very little to defray those costs.
—New York Times, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defray
Verb
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Offer paid apprenticeships and fast-track training for entry-level IT roles.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
On the lawn of the Nickel Plate Amphitheater behind City Hall and Art Center, Fishers will pay Blue Peak, of Michigan, $143,881 to put up a 116-by-82-foot tent that will stand for most of December.—
John Tuohy,
IndyStar,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Wisconsin flood insurance premiums just above national average Flood insurance policies are managed by FEMA and private companies with premiums subsidized by the federal government.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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The government will subsidize some payments on certain types of personal loans, to a cap.—
Brendan Ahern,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Each of these endpoints represents an ongoing software component that must be maintained, secured, improved and funded over time.—
Thomas Ryd,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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Instead, it has been funded by a combination of self-investment by the founder, selling equity to some Kagi users in two rounds, and subscription revenue: Kagi was bootstrapped from 2018 to 2023 with ~$3M initial funding from the founder.—
Lee Hutchinson,
ArsTechnica,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Where the Dial Really Needs Moving Traditionally, the huge challenge for Africa has been getting films financed.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
6 Aug. 2025
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Oil and gas revenues are a key source of cash for the Kremlin, making up roughly a quarter of Russia’s government budget, so losing customers would be painful – and could hurt Moscow’s ability to finance the its war on Ukraine.—
Svitlana Vlasova,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defray. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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