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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What To Know Electric vehicle registration fees vary widely across the country, with some states already charging EV drivers more to compensate for their lack of fuel tax contributions.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 May 2025
-
Trained as an electronic engineer at a school of advanced studies in Venezuela, Pernía, 37, has had to compensate for his losses by working as a driver, using his car to support his wife and child.—
Gustavo Ocando Alex,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
DoorDash activation: DoorDash customers and DashPass members can redeem a special race-week takeaway—just show your app and enjoy the perks!—
Erica Wertheim Zohar,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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The customer can redeem points for various rewards, including discounts on service, parts, accessories and toward the purchase of a new Ford vehicle.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, credit quality held steady, with losses below 1% in the company’s core offering that allows users to repay loans in four installments.—
MacKenzie Sigalos,
CNBC,
8 May 2025
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Allow employees to allocate employer contributions to retirement, emergency savings, repaying student loans and other financial priorities.—
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Verb
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The mistake was caught within minutes and officials were alerted so that it could be corrected, according to a team source.—
Chris Johnston,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
-
The President has said the nation is experiencing a setback that will be corrected by manufacturing jobs being created in the U.S. Biden has been publicly quiet about the incessant criticism that continues to come from his successor.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Expiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expiate. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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