as in to compensate
to make up for (an offense)
Yom Kippur is the holy day on which Jews are expected to expiate sins committed during the past year
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Recent Examples of expiate
The Sisters have come a long way, but never strayed from their mission: to promulgate universal joy and expiate stigmatic guilt.
—
Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2023
But now Epstein, 49, is wearing a different hat, and hoping to expiate his unintended sins against a sport that has been his lifelong passion.
—David Axelrod, CNN, 1 Apr. 2023
In the former category are Ani (Katy Sullivan), who lost her legs in a car accident, and her ex-husband Eddie (David Zayas), a good-natured, unemployed truck driver who insists on caring for Ani, possibly to expiate his guilt over cheating on her when they were married.
—Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Oct. 2022
Only the brilliant Richard Fleischer–Norman Wexler Mandingo in 1975 would expiate that consciousness.
—Armond White, National Review, 27 Apr. 2022
In 17th-century Austria, wooden pillars were erected for the self-mortifying convenience of the flagellants who roamed Europe, whipping themselves to expiate whatever sins had brought on the Black Death.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 15 Mar. 2021
Ridding oneself of guilt is often easier than overcoming shame, in part because our society offers many ways to expiate guilt-inducing offenses, including apologizing, paying fines, and serving jail time.
—Annette Kämmerer, Scientific American, 9 Aug. 2019
Anyone who’s familiar with the world of competitive cycling knows that, for some athletes, the sport is a means of escaping, or salving, or expiating, tremendous inner pain.
—Bill Gifford, Outside Online, 24 July 2019
Perhaps, but as Chief Justice John Roberts notes in his persuasive dissent, there’s no crisis that now compels the Court to expiate a long-ago mistake that Congress has the power to fix.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 21 June 2018
Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2023
But now Epstein, 49, is wearing a different hat, and hoping to expiate his unintended sins against a sport that has been his lifelong passion.
—David Axelrod, CNN, 1 Apr. 2023
In the former category are Ani (Katy Sullivan), who lost her legs in a car accident, and her ex-husband Eddie (David Zayas), a good-natured, unemployed truck driver who insists on caring for Ani, possibly to expiate his guilt over cheating on her when they were married.
—Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Oct. 2022
Only the brilliant Richard Fleischer–Norman Wexler Mandingo in 1975 would expiate that consciousness.
—Armond White, National Review, 27 Apr. 2022
In 17th-century Austria, wooden pillars were erected for the self-mortifying convenience of the flagellants who roamed Europe, whipping themselves to expiate whatever sins had brought on the Black Death.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 15 Mar. 2021
Ridding oneself of guilt is often easier than overcoming shame, in part because our society offers many ways to expiate guilt-inducing offenses, including apologizing, paying fines, and serving jail time.
—Annette Kämmerer, Scientific American, 9 Aug. 2019
Anyone who’s familiar with the world of competitive cycling knows that, for some athletes, the sport is a means of escaping, or salving, or expiating, tremendous inner pain.
—Bill Gifford, Outside Online, 24 July 2019
Perhaps, but as Chief Justice John Roberts notes in his persuasive dissent, there’s no crisis that now compels the Court to expiate a long-ago mistake that Congress has the power to fix.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 21 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expiate
Verb
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Those stranded abroad may not be compensated for out-of-pocket costs incurred for extra meals or hotel nights.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
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To compensate for all that jouncing and twisting, the flight-control software uses the plane’s sensors to calculate the force and direction of the wind.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Redemption centers also would now collect the identification for customers who redeem at least 2,000 containers.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
2 Mar. 2026
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Must use promo code OUTSIDE20 at checkout to redeem.—
Kristen Geil,
Outside,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Park Board, however, would be able to issue bonds to address those needs, using property taxes to repay them.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
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The couple’s generosity was exploited, their trust repaid with murder, one friend said, by a man whose evil hid in plain sight.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But the issue was never corrected despite at least two other amendments being made to the contract.—
Chaya Tong,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
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Listening to concerns, explaining how vaccines are tested and monitored for safety and correcting misinformation in clear language remain crucial.—
A.J. Russo,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expiate. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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