pay 1 of 2

1
as in to compensate
to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received we need to pay the cashier and then we can leave

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to meet
to give what is owed for you ought to pay that bill before it's overdue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
as in to yield
to produce as revenue an investment paying six percent

Synonyms & Similar Words

5

pay

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word pay distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of pay are compensate, indemnify, recompense, reimburse, remunerate, repay, and satisfy. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

When might compensate be a better fit than pay?

The words compensate and pay are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

When can indemnify be used instead of pay?

Although the words indemnify and pay have much in common, indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

When would recompense be a good substitute for pay?

The meanings of recompense and pay largely overlap; however, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

When could reimburse be used to replace pay?

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

reimbursed employees for expenses

Where would remunerate be a reasonable alternative to pay?

In some situations, the words remunerate and pay are roughly equivalent. However, 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 is it sensible to use repay instead of pay?

While in some cases nearly identical to pay, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

When is satisfy a more appropriate choice than pay?

While the synonyms satisfy and pay are close in meaning, 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 pay
Verb
In 2017, the county paid $100,000 for NCCHC consultants to tour its four largest jails and flag any deficiencies that would keep the sheriff from earning accreditation. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2025 In April 2023, Fox News Media paid a $787.5 million settlement and acknowledged that statements were false. Charna Flam, People.com, 9 May 2025
Noun
Transparency in pay structures fosters trust, ensuring fair, competitive and scalable compensation. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025 The British angler was fishing Euro-Aqua Lake in Hungary, a private pay lake that is well-known in European carp-fishing circles for kicking out some of the biggest bottom feeders in the world. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for pay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay
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
  • Sutton and Rogers met before her murder and are believed to have slept together.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • Trump has encouraged the leaders to meet but downplayed Putin's refusal.
    Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Residents of the 8th Congressional District spend an average of 13% of their household income on energy — the highest in the state, according to Department of Commerce data.
    Tom Olsen, Twin Cities, 14 May 2025
  • Combs could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • And all of them have come against his fastball, a pitch that has yielded a lot of hard contact while getting very little swing-and-miss — including no whiffs Friday.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2025
  • Newton North showed its resilience in the fourth set, but that was not enough as Needham employed a bend-but-don’t-break approach that yielded a 25-19 victory.
    Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • The University of Utah also stated that its police department hired a crime data analyst, Nikol Mitchell, in 2022, who discovered that the school had a cold case that had been lost for almost 20 years.
    David Chiu, People.com, 14 May 2025
  • The group hired workers with disabilities, including veterans, for specialized janitorial work in a Vacaville prison as part of a contract the California Correctional Health Care Services approved.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • This year, salary savings are expected to begin in July.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2025
  • The effort also aims to improve staff retention and recruitment at a time when hiring enough teachers can prove challenging — especially in an expensive city where the rising cost of having a family outpaces a teacher’s salary.
    Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • The president also wants to eliminate tax on tips, overtime and Social Security payments.
    Riley Beggin, USA Today, 13 May 2025
  • These anticorruption provisions are designed to prevent presidents from accepting gifts or payments from foreign officials or U.S. states.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, private sector workers continue to bear residual financial burdens despite repaying their loans.
    Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
  • Social Security benefits can generally be reduced by up to 15% to repay student debt in default, so long as beneficiaries are left with at least $750 per month.
    Annie Nova,Ali McCadden, CNBC, 18 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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