REPAY Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'repay' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of repay are compensate , indemnify , pay , recompense , reimburse , remunerate , and satisfy . While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount. // repay a favor with a favor

Q: In what contexts can 'compensate' take the place of 'repay'?

In some situations, the words compensate and repay are roughly equivalent. However, compensate implies a making up for services rendered. // an attorney well compensated for her services

Q: When is 'indemnify' a more appropriate choice than 'repay'?

Although the words indemnify and repay have much in common, indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare. // indemnified the families of the dead miners

Q: When can 'pay' be used instead of 'repay'?

While in some cases nearly identical to repay , pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred. // paid their bills

Q: When would 'recompense' be a good substitute for 'repay'?

The synonyms recompense and repay are sometimes interchangeable, but recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward. // passengers were recompensed for the delay

Q: When is it sensible to use 'reimburse' instead of 'repay'?

The words reimburse and repay are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit. // reimbursed employees for expenses

Q: Where would 'remunerate' be a reasonable alternative to 'repay'?

While the synonyms remunerate and repay are close in meaning, 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

Q: When might 'satisfy' be a better fit than 'repay'?

The meanings of satisfy and repay largely overlap; however, satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law. // all creditors will be satisfied in full

repay

verb

(ˌ)rē-ˈpā

Definition of repay next

as in to reimburse

to make a return payment to I repaid my friend the $20 he had lent me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to pay

to make a return for how can we ever repay your kindness?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word repay distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of repay are compensate, indemnify, pay, recompense, reimburse, remunerate, and satisfy. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

In what contexts can compensate take the place of repay?

In some situations, the words compensate and repay are roughly equivalent. However, compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

When is indemnify a more appropriate choice than repay?

Although the words indemnify and repay have much in common, indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

When can pay be used instead of repay?

While in some cases nearly identical to repay, pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

When would recompense be a good substitute for repay?

The synonyms recompense and repay are sometimes interchangeable, but recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

When is it sensible to use reimburse instead of repay?

The words reimburse and repay are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

Where would remunerate be a reasonable alternative to repay?

While the synonyms remunerate and repay are close in meaning, 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 might satisfy be a better fit than repay?

The meanings of satisfy and repay 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 repay Those bonds will be repaid with property taxes and with any revenue generated from selling power from the dams' hydroelectric plants, which can resume operating once the lakes are full. —

Liz Teitz, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Mar. 2026 Instead of repaying the loans, borrowers just gave their properties to the bank, which sold them to other banks at a paper profit, according to Namazi. —

Jason Ma, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026 The Commissioners Court voted unanimously Friday to advertise its intent to issue $350 million in bonds, which would amount to $688 million with interest repaid through property taxes over the next several decades. —

Tracey McManus, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026 The British government’s Redundancy Payments Service has stepped in to repay some of the roughly £600,000 ($800,000) owed to people employed on the indie feature, which halted midway through its month-long shoot in February 2025. —

Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for repay

Recent Examples of Synonyms for repay

Verb

Since the contract ended, documents show OVG has sought $5 million in damages from Dallas, saying the city improperly ended the agreement, refused to pay invoices for work performed before the termination and failed to reimburse certain expenses and investments.

— Aria Jones, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
For instance, travelers might not even be completely reimbursed for every expense.

— Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2026