as in damages
payment to another for a loss or injury
the government instituted a program of reparations to the descendants of Native Americans who were driven from their land
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 reparations
Kansas City’s reparations movement is moving ahead on two fronts, one rooted in community storytelling, the other in formal policy research.
—
J.m. Banks
november 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2025
Here, the reparations bills intended ancestry to be a proxy for race to benefit black Californians.
—Andrew Quinio, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
Over those 11 years, the share of congressional Democratic co-sponsors of a bill to study reparations for the descendents of slaves rose from 1% to 57%.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The Kremlin has threatened to take action against the EU if the supranational organization follows through with its reparations loan.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2025
In December 2024, a Belgian court ordered the government to pay reparations to five mixed-race women after they were forcibly removed from their families in the colonial-era Belgian Congo.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
When the Florida Legislature approved financial compensation for Rosewood’s survivors and descendants in 1994, it was seen as a national model for reparations.
—Kate Payne, Orlando Sentinel, 23 Dec. 2024
Kyiv also seeks reparations, accountability for Russian war crimes, and guarantees of its sovereignty before considering peace negotiations.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Then came the drive for reparations and restitution, which not only sought to compensate for the unimaginable suffering but also for the property seized by the Nazis.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
J.m. Banks
november 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2025
Here, the reparations bills intended ancestry to be a proxy for race to benefit black Californians.
—Andrew Quinio, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
Over those 11 years, the share of congressional Democratic co-sponsors of a bill to study reparations for the descendents of slaves rose from 1% to 57%.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The Kremlin has threatened to take action against the EU if the supranational organization follows through with its reparations loan.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2025
In December 2024, a Belgian court ordered the government to pay reparations to five mixed-race women after they were forcibly removed from their families in the colonial-era Belgian Congo.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
When the Florida Legislature approved financial compensation for Rosewood’s survivors and descendants in 1994, it was seen as a national model for reparations.
—Kate Payne, Orlando Sentinel, 23 Dec. 2024
Kyiv also seeks reparations, accountability for Russian war crimes, and guarantees of its sovereignty before considering peace negotiations.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Then came the drive for reparations and restitution, which not only sought to compensate for the unimaginable suffering but also for the property seized by the Nazis.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reparations
Noun
-
In 2025, 23 weather and climate events exceeded $1 billion in damages, costing a total of around $115 billion, according to an analysis released Thursday by the nonprofit organization Climate Central.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The United States experienced nearly two dozen billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in 2025, causing at least 276 fatalities and costing a total of $115 billion in damages.—
Matthew Glasser,
ABC News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Those compensations ripple upward.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The Suns reportedly offered Royce O'Neale and second-round compensations.—
Valentina Martinez,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reparations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reparations. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share