1
as in to compensate
to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received promptly remunerated the repair company for fixing the dryer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to reimburse
to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury the negligent landlord must remunerate those made homeless by the fire by finding new housing for them at his own expense

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word remunerate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of remunerate are compensate, indemnify, pay, recompense, reimburse, repay, and satisfy. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," 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 compensate be used to replace remunerate?

The synonyms compensate and remunerate are sometimes interchangeable, but compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

When can indemnify be used instead of remunerate?

While in some cases nearly identical to remunerate, indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

When is it sensible to use pay instead of remunerate?

Although the words pay and remunerate have much in common, pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

When would recompense be a good substitute for remunerate?

The words recompense and remunerate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

When might reimburse be a better fit than remunerate?

The words reimburse and remunerate can be used in similar contexts, but reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

When is repay a more appropriate choice than remunerate?

In some situations, the words repay and remunerate are roughly equivalent. However, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

In what contexts can satisfy take the place of remunerate?

The meanings of satisfy and remunerate largely overlap; 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 remunerate As part of an agreement to end the strike, a payment pot was set up to remunerate actors based on future viewings of their work on streaming services. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 14 May 2024 The majority of truly important work is not highly remunerated. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2024 However, the writers who create the stories which appear on these platforms are not being adequately remunerated for their work. K.j. Yossman, Variety, 12 Sep. 2023 The lawsuit makes no specific monetary demand but asks that a jury require Tesla to remunerate alleged victims for the conduct they were subjected to and pay other damages, as appropriate. Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 28 Sep. 2023 See All Example Sentences for remunerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for remunerate
Verb
  • Not only does this type of pain point to an underlying injury, pushing through can lead to a secondary injury, because other muscles and tissues absorb extra stress to compensate.
    Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 23 June 2025
  • Foremost, Desmond Bane was no more than a third wheel for the Grizzlies, behind Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., with ample options currently on Memphis’ roster to compensate for the dealing of Bane.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • Walgreens believed that its scale and its millions of customers gave it clout with pharmacy benefits managers, or PBMs, which function as a type of go-between, negotiating how much patients pay for drugs, what insurers owe drugmakers, and how much pharmacies are reimbursed.
    Phil Wahba, Fortune, 17 June 2025
  • As a sponsor of food distribution sites, Partners submitted claims on their behalf and took administrative fees from the money that was reimbursed.
    Josh Verges, Twin Cities, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • Letarte expects teams to pay more attention to their In-Season Challenge competitors as the five-race tournament plays out, and the potential $1 million draws closer.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 26 June 2025
  • Hochul disagrees with Mamdani’s plan to raise taxes on the rich to pay for his plans as mayor, such as free child care and buses.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • These half-century-old awards, which don’t need to be repaid, make a big difference in whether students from families of modest means enroll and stay in college, their supporters say.
    Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
  • Under the law, customers would remain responsible for whatever costs are approved by PURA, but repay them in smaller monthly installments over a longer period.
    Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 24 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Remunerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/remunerate. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on remunerate

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!