redeem

1
2
as in to save
to free from captivity or punishment by paying a price the government has consistently refused to redeem hostages captured by terrorists

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in to forgive
to free from the penalties or consequences of sin the belief that sinners are redeemed by their faith in God

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in to rehabilitate
to make better in behavior or character the unfaithful husband made a determined effort to redeem himself in the eyes of his wife and children

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
as in to compensate
to make up for (an offense) quickly redeemed the offending remark with a sincere and unconditional apology

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb redeem contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of redeem are deliver, ransom, reclaim, rescue, and save. While all these words mean "to set free from confinement or danger," redeem implies releasing from bondage or penalties by giving what is demanded or necessary.

job training designed to redeem school dropouts from chronic unemployment

When is deliver a more appropriate choice than redeem?

The words deliver and redeem can be used in similar contexts, but deliver implies release usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering.

delivered his people from bondage

When can ransom be used instead of redeem?

Although the words ransom and redeem have much in common, ransom specifically applies to buying out of captivity.

tried to ransom the kidnap victim

When might reclaim be a better fit than redeem?

The synonyms reclaim and redeem are sometimes interchangeable, but reclaim suggests a bringing back to a former state or condition of someone or something abandoned or debased.

reclaimed long-abandoned farms

When would rescue be a good substitute for redeem?

While in some cases nearly identical to redeem, rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action.

rescued the crew of a sinking ship

In what contexts can save take the place of redeem?

The words save and redeem are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, save may replace any of the foregoing terms; it may further imply a preserving or maintaining for usefulness or continued existence.

an operation that saved my life

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 redeem Participants can pay $20 for a 20-ticket activity and ride voucher that can be redeemed for amusement rides, the giant slide, kiddie bumper boats, make your own scarecrow, a pig slide, pony rides and pumpkin bowling. Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025 Here’s how to claim your lottery prize All Arizona Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $100 and may redeem winnings up to $599. Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2025 Customers can redeem the offer at Charlotte-area locations during the promotional window, though Chick-fil-A didn’t provide a list of participating restaurants. Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2025 Some sort of salvation narrative seems ripe, but who will be redeemed remains to be seen. Grace Byron, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for redeem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for redeem
Verb
  • But alas, the March 2005 issue had me on the inside of a pullout cover to fulfill their legal obligation.
    Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Buried under the charred rubble on Life Changers Global Ministries’ parking lot is a promise that will be fulfilled, the decades-old south Phoenix church’s pastor is quick to assure.
    Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Her efforts saved the animal’s life and landed her in her hometown newspaper, The Mountain Eagle, which was the first to write about the dramatic rescue and resuscitation.
    Michael Collins, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • These annual gifts can also reduce the size of your taxable estate, saving more of your lifetime exemption for future inheritances.
    Nathalie Goldstein, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Lest one forget regulatory tailwinds; the European Union Nature Restoration Law obliges EU member states to rehabilitate 20 percent of degraded ecosystems by 2030.
    Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The true cost of a city destroyed and then saturated by munitions might not be measured in the number of shells fired, dollars spent to rehabilitate, or even lives.
    Michael Jerome Plunkett September 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Pixel’s Magic Editor leverages generative AI tools, which can remove objects in the background, alter lighting, and realistically change the entire mood of a phone (a bright middary sun can easily be compensated for).
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Efficient, neat, always available as a means of compensating for her (completely justified) fear of not being a brilliant enough copywriter.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Perhaps she had been struck over the head and wrapped in fabric and thrown in a crate, to be ransomed.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 27 Aug. 2025
  • What happened to the enslaved individuals or the Archbishop of Goa isn’t clear, though the viceroy was ransomed for $2,000.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 July 2025
Verb
  • Justin Bieber continues to reclaim the word that defined his young pop stardom with his completely new eighth studio album, Swag II.
    Zoë Haylock, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Using jewelry to signal a change in status also isn’t new, but the idea of publicly marking divorce and reclaiming it as a celebration is.
    Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Merdeka Gold will use bulk of the funds raised from the IPO to repay debt, while the rest will be used for working capital to support its operation.
    Yessar Rosendar, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The agency began issuing overpayment notices on April 25, 2025, and would start withholding 50% of the recipient's benefits after about 90 days (or approximately July 24, at the earliest), until the overpayment is repaid.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Dancing alone in her bedroom won’t satisfy her, especially after Hollywood claims her for a dance competition slash reality TV show.
    Eliana Ramage September 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
  • His Coconut Grove home, as well as his wages as a city commissioner, have both been protected by the courts and cannot be collected to satisfy the judgment.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Redeem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/redeem. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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