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 Creators need to be consulted, give consent and be remunerated when their work is used to develop AI models. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Aug. 2024 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 See All Example Sentences for remunerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for remunerate
Verb
  • Even when time is added to compensate, attention doesn’t recover fully.
    Jack Zenger, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
  • Would land swaps compensate for territory deemed essential by Israel for security?
    Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2025
Verb
  • In order to be reimbursed for the tests, the beneficiaries were required to submit claims with their name and Medicare identification number, along with other information.
    Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 25 July 2025
  • That money will be reimbursed via either sales tax generated by the business or TIF increment funds, depending on the resources available each budget year, the city has said.
    Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 24 July 2025
Verb
  • Any cleaning that needs to be done to meet the landlord’s standards is then paid for using the security deposit.
    Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 July 2025
  • The work is being paid for by a nonprofit that also funded work at the Washington Monument.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 20 July 2025
Verb
  • According to a disclosure filed with the Federal Election Commission on July 6, the current White House press secretary's 2022 congressional campaign, Karoline for Congress, failed to repay any of its $326,370.50 debt.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 31 July 2025
  • Broadnax pledged to repay $3,780 for his solo lunches.
    Ella McCarthy, Austin American Statesman, 31 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Remunerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/remunerate. Accessed 3 Aug. 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!