as in to pay
somewhat formal
to provide money for (something)
This will defray the costs.
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Recent Examples of defray
Family members have started a GoFundMe page to defray medical and funeral expenses.
—
Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for defray
Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for defray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defray
Verb
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Tech giants are buying up memory chips like never before, and paying a premium for multiyear contracts.—
Nasteho Said,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
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This should be exciting news for the 1 in 6 Americans who deal with infertility, especially those without health insurance or paying out-of-pocket because of inadequate coverage.—
Anna Moeslein,
Glamour,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The hope is aesthetic treatments will subsidize the health care the clinics hope to continue providing.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
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Through the Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) grant, Florida subsidizes equivalent degrees at private, nonprofit institutions at a cost of just $3,500 per student.—
Albert D. Mosley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Largely funded by Proposition 1, the project aims to address overlapping homelessness and mental health crises by integrating all care levels on campus.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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Ultimately, the agency funded a new Comiskey Park — now Rate Field — and Franzen left that board in 1990.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The deal comes a week after the Swiss company made a firm bid for specialty insurer Beazley Plc and started a $5 billion capital raise to help finance the transaction.—
Sonia Sirletti,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
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Social Security is financed by a payroll tax paid for by employers and employees.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defray. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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