as in to repay
to make a return payment to make sure you keep your receipts so we can reimburse you for your expenses

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word reimburse distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of reimburse are compensate, indemnify, pay, recompense, remunerate, repay, and satisfy. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

When is compensate a more appropriate choice than reimburse?

Although the words compensate and reimburse have much in common, compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

When would indemnify be a good substitute for reimburse?

The synonyms indemnify and reimburse 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 reimburse?

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

paid their bills

When is it sensible to use recompense instead of reimburse?

While the synonyms recompense and reimburse are close in meaning, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

When can remunerate be used instead of reimburse?

The words remunerate and reimburse 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 could repay be used to replace reimburse?

The words repay and reimburse are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

Where would satisfy be a reasonable alternative to reimburse?

In some situations, the words satisfy and reimburse are roughly equivalent. However, 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 reimburse 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 Unfortunately, bank customers aren't always reimbursed when they're hit by some scams, including when they're deceived into making a payment to a con artist, such as in a romance scam. Susan Tompor, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025 That measure was widely interpreted as guaranteeing that all federal workers, including those furloughed or working without pay, would be reimbursed after any future shutdown. Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025 But this night’s event was celebrating the launch of Yang’s new phone plan, Noble Mobile, which is designed to reimburse users for their leftover data, and Yang needed to demonstrate. Charlotte Goddu, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reimburse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reimburse
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
Verb
  • By contrast, in states like Nevada, where more than 1,000 nuclear tests conducted in the 1950s and '60s exposed civilians to radiation, individuals have been compensated with up to $100,000.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Setup ease comes courtesy of autofocus, keystone correction, fit-to-screen and a tool that can compensate for uneven surfaces.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reimburse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reimburse. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on reimburse

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