recompense 1 of 2

recompense

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to compensate
to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received the cash-strapped museum can recompense lecturers with only token honorariums

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to pay
to give what is owed for that company still needs to recompense the work that the contractor finished last month

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to reimburse
to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury the government has yet to adequately recompense the property owners for the land taken for the new highway

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in to repay
to make a return for the wealthy gentleman told the poor little girl she could recompense his generosity simply by enjoying her new toys

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word recompense distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of recompense are compensate, indemnify, pay, reimburse, remunerate, repay, and satisfy. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

In what contexts can compensate take the place of recompense?

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

an attorney well compensated for her services

When would indemnify be a good substitute for recompense?

The synonyms indemnify and recompense are sometimes interchangeable, but indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

When might pay be a better fit than recompense?

The meanings of pay and recompense largely overlap; however, pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

When can reimburse be used instead of recompense?

In some situations, the words reimburse and recompense are roughly equivalent. However, reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

When is it sensible to use remunerate instead of recompense?

The words remunerate and recompense can be used in similar contexts, but 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 repay a more appropriate choice than recompense?

While the synonyms repay and recompense are close in meaning, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

Where would satisfy be a reasonable alternative to recompense?

While in some cases nearly identical to recompense, 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 recompense
Noun
Bates is pained to see teenagers (representing 12% of the city population), brazenly and without recompense, running around, destroying the lives of others, and also for those whose lives were cut short in middle age by said juveniles. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 6 June 2025 Some states and localities have filed lawsuits seeking recompense for the damage allegedly caused to their area by climate change. Josiah Neeley, Oc Register, 21 May 2025
Verb
Thurber complained to him about being asked to recompense The New Yorker for a sixty-dollar overpayment; writers got paid by the word (still do), and the accounting department had calculated that the final word count on a certain Thurber story was less than the original word count. Mary Norris, The New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2023 European countries like Germany and the UK have shored up money for their violent role in suppressing Namibian and Kenyan protests, but the Netherlands is the first to publicly acknowledge and recompense for slavery. Jasmine Browley, Essence, 23 Sep. 2022 See All Example Sentences for recompense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recompense
Noun
  • Sean Dyche, the former Burnley and Everton manager, is currently out of work and so compensation would not be a concern.
    Paul Taylor, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • If the music industry doesn’t lead in this moment, AI-powered innovation will happen elsewhere, without rights, consent or compensation.
    Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Upon the basis of these findings, Congress declares that the constitutional right of citizens to vote is denied or abridged in some areas by the requirement of the payment of a poll tax as a precondition to voting.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 17 Oct. 2025
  • In an interview with Fortune, cofounder and CEO Renaud Laplanche explained that Upgrade managed to thrive during a broader reckoning for neobanks because of product diversification and a focus on loans, which can offer a far greater margin than transaction payments.
    Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Are the rights holders of the shows now being carried on additional platforms being compensated?
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Ultimately, local authorities will report the discovery to the National Heritage Board, which will decide if the state should compensate the finder.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • What To Know According to the Associated Press (AP), the vote enables the county Board of Supervisors to approve rent relief efforts to tenants who cannot afford to pay their monthly costs of living due to the immigration crackdowns.
    Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Through their performances, the 10 remaining couples will pay tribute to influential people in their lives.
    Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Garcia now hopes a judge will force LBJ to reimburse him.
    Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 9 Oct. 2025
  • If the tire needs to be replaced, Omega will reimburse you $100 per tire, up to a maximum of $400.
    Brian Sloan, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Duggan administration has interpreted state law to mean they can’t be repaid.
    Violet Ikonomova, Freep.com, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Grizzly is claiming the singer-rapper is required to repay $27 million in advances from the tour, adding that Rod remains under contract to work with the promoter for future tours.
    Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Kyiv would be required to repay the debt only if Russia paid reparations for its war.
    Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Jackson uses his considerable fortune to pay reparation to the victims.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • To date, Jones has not paid any monetary damages to the Sandy Hook families.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Dixon is seeking $260 million in damages from Perry and his production company, Tyler Perry Studios.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Recompense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recompense. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

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