as in to pay
somewhat formal
to provide money for (something)
This will defray the costs.
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Recent Examples of defray
And season ticket holders who are eager to defray high costs could start thinking about selling some tickets at a profit to recoup expenses.
—
Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2025
There are ways, however, that Disney can defray that deficit.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Decker installed a solar panel array to help defray the cost and impact of the electricity used by his computers and crypto mining activities, and submitted a report to SMUD explaining why his usage was elevated.
—Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2025
The first customers for the gadget (introduced in mid-2018) have been parents who use it to calm their children, particularly those with special needs, and students who use it to defray stress during exams.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Jan. 2019
See All Example Sentences for defray
Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2025
There are ways, however, that Disney can defray that deficit.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Decker installed a solar panel array to help defray the cost and impact of the electricity used by his computers and crypto mining activities, and submitted a report to SMUD explaining why his usage was elevated.
—Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2025
The first customers for the gadget (introduced in mid-2018) have been parents who use it to calm their children, particularly those with special needs, and students who use it to defray stress during exams.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Jan. 2019
See All Example Sentences for defray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defray
Verb
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Surely America should pay Black people for its crimes, too.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Groginsky told me that, no matter what, New Mexico expects to be able to pay for its child-care program through 2026.—
Elliot Haspel,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In that doomsday scenario, California would be subsidizing productions that would have opted to shoot in the state regardless.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
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The government shutdown has focused debate on the vast sum ($136 billion in 2025, as projected by the Congressional Budget Office) that the federal government spends to annually subsidize continually skyrocketing Obamacare health insurance premiums.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Partner with the Wisconsin Arts Board for an America's 250th folklife project, funded by a grant from the Smithsonian.—
Jim Higgins,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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The charitable organization funded by the Johnson & Johnson heiress is known for gifts to education, health and civic projects.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Owing in large part to Sabine, the British government financed the construction of magnetic observatories around the empire.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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But how the buildup will be financed remains unclear.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defray. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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