as in to pay
somewhat formal
to provide money for (something)
This will defray the costs.
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Recent Examples of defray
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
Those who move to New York or other big metro areas with similar aspirations may take steps to try to defray the high cost of living, Garrett said.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2025
To defray those costs, the state has awarded another $400 million in tax credits to 1888 Studios.
—Andrew Rice, Curbed, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defray
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
Those who move to New York or other big metro areas with similar aspirations may take steps to try to defray the high cost of living, Garrett said.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2025
To defray those costs, the state has awarded another $400 million in tax credits to 1888 Studios.
—Andrew Rice, Curbed, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defray
Verb
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In this Gothic fantasy debut, Leena Al-Sayer bargains her ability to see the dead in order to pay for the expensive medicine her brother Rami needs to live.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
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The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the legislature should act on the report’s recommendations with actions to strengthen reporting, enforce existing laws, prevent further abandonment of wells and ensure polluters pay for cleanup.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At the same time, landlords are also marketing amenities and subsidizing tenant improvement costs.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
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As Sportico has previously reported, UMass subsidized 80% of its athletics costs in the previous fiscal year, which was the highest number in all of FBS.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Senate passed a package funding huge chunks of the federal government through September but setting a two-week stopwatch on the expiration of Homeland Security funding.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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Speaking out, the chief’s supporters say, risks inviting backlash from the White House and could also affect the long pipeline of federal money the department relies on, for instance, to help fund de-escalation training for officers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The company that financed it, Amazon MGM Studios, still has a long way to go to break even.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
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Altman, with his own curiosities about the efficacy of the payments, helped finance a series of experiments on basic universal income from his OpenResearch project, beginning in 2020.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defray. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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