as in to pay
somewhat formal
to provide money for (something)
This will defray the costs.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defray
Across the nation, lawmakers are trying out policies to defray costs or provide new forms of help.
—
Kat McGowan, NPR, 30 Dec. 2025
Instead of the usual $5,000 guarantee, SDSU paid Whittier an extra $2,500 to defray the additional costs of keeping players on campus during the semester break.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025
In the months prior to the actor’s death, Finn’s friends launched a GoFundMe page on behalf of the family to help defray medical costs.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Dec. 2025
The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help defray the huge financial burden for Jenna and her husband Matthew.
—Josh Mankiewicz, NBC news, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defray
Kat McGowan, NPR, 30 Dec. 2025
Instead of the usual $5,000 guarantee, SDSU paid Whittier an extra $2,500 to defray the additional costs of keeping players on campus during the semester break.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025
In the months prior to the actor’s death, Finn’s friends launched a GoFundMe page on behalf of the family to help defray medical costs.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Dec. 2025
The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help defray the huge financial burden for Jenna and her husband Matthew.
—Josh Mankiewicz, NBC news, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defray
Verb
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The reality, however, will likely prove more complicated as the administration weighs its next moves and how — or whether — to issue refunds for tariffs already paid.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
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French President Emmanuel Macron called for calm on Saturday as some 3,000 people joined a march in Lyon organized by far-right groups to pay tribute to Deranque.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But Borenstein explains that some of the reduction in cost could be because San Francisco and other urban areas are subsidizing the more rural areas in PG&E territory, particularly in fire-prone areas.—
Amanda Hari,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
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There’s agreement on subsidizing child care providers All candidates agreed that the state needed to further subsidize child care providers and extend family leave but offered varying answers on how to fund those priorities.—
Lia Russell
Updated February 19,
Sacbee.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The separate Disability Insurance Trust Fund is fully funded through at least 2099, the agency reports.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
28 Feb. 2026
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The ads and mailers are funded by the American Conservative Fund.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Orbán has frequently threatened to scuttle the bloc’s efforts to sanction Moscow over its invasion, and has decried attempts to hit Russia’s energy revenues that help finance the war.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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The [American] taxpayer money is not properly used to finance this kind of statement.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defray. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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