as in to compensate
to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury the company generously indemnifies workers who are injured on the job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Synonym Chooser

How is the word indemnify distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of indemnify are compensate, pay, recompense, reimburse, remunerate, repay, and satisfy. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

When is it sensible to use compensate instead of indemnify?

In some situations, the words compensate and indemnify are roughly equivalent. However, compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

In what contexts can pay take the place of indemnify?

While the synonyms pay and indemnify are close in meaning, pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

When can recompense be used instead of indemnify?

While in some cases nearly identical to indemnify, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

When might reimburse be a better fit than indemnify?

The synonyms reimburse and indemnify are sometimes interchangeable, but reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

When is remunerate a more appropriate choice than indemnify?

The words remunerate and indemnify are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, remunerate clearly suggests paying for services rendered and may extend to payment that is generous or not contracted for.

promised to remunerate the searchers handsomely

When could repay be used to replace indemnify?

Although the words repay and indemnify have much in common, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

When would satisfy be a good substitute for indemnify?

The words satisfy and indemnify can be used in similar contexts, but satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

all creditors will be satisfied in full

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 indemnify Importantly, companies are prohibited from indemnifying any current or former executive officers against clawbacks. Priya Cherian Huskins, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024 The third element of the revisions is requiring legal rental companies to indemnify the city against liability for damages or injuries. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Nov. 2024 By contrast, Delaware corporations are typically not able to indemnify directors and officers for derivative suit settlements. Priya Cherian Huskins, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024 In the United States, that is typically corporate bankruptcy (where the company cannot indemnify due to insolvency) and the settlements of derivative suits where state corporate law does not permit indemnification. Priya Cherian Huskins, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for indemnify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indemnify
Verb
  • As outlined in the court documents, Capital One did not admit wrongdoing but agreed to compensate affected customers for foregone interest and provide additional payments to those holding certain accounts.
    Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
  • And pitchers such as Banda have had to compensate as a result.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • You can get reimbursed from your 529 plan for any eligible out-of-pocket expenses within the same calendar year.
    Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 14 May 2025
  • So far, Florida has made $250 million in grants available to reimburse local police departments that sign up to collaborate with ICE.
    Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 13 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Indemnify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indemnify. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on indemnify

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!