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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
Not only does this type of pain point to an underlying injury, pushing through can lead to a secondary injury, because other muscles and tissues absorb extra stress to compensate.—
Cindy Kuzma,
SELF,
23 June 2025
-
It was created with a single question in mind: Why do most work boots fail the people who wear them every day? Uncomfortable fits, tight toe boxes, and poor longevity have often left many tradespeople compensating.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
22 June 2025
Verb
-
Last Verified On June 22, 2025 Information Confirmed By Newsweek All of these offers are easy to redeem with the Fanatics Sportsbook promo offer.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 June 2025
-
Scooter's Coffee offers BOGO deal on Father's Day Scooter's Coffee customers can redeem a buy one, get one drink offer on Sunday, June 15 in the Scooter's Coffee mobile app.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
15 June 2025
Verb
-
These half-century-old awards, which don’t need to be repaid, make a big difference in whether students from families of modest means enroll and stay in college, their supporters say.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
-
Under the law, customers would remain responsible for whatever costs are approved by PURA, but repay them in smaller monthly installments over a longer period.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
The disuse of clemency means that a succession of governors abdicated their ancient power to correct miscarriages of justice and temper justice with mercy, which Florida courts don’t do well.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
23 June 2025
-
Trump Is Preparing for a US Attack on Iran Fifty years later, oceanographers are working to correct the record on sharks and educate people on why sharks are a critical part of the ocean's ecosystem and need to be protected.—
Sophie Clark,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Expiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expiate. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share