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 Direct and indirect loans to the general fund budget come from special funds set aside for specific purposes, and after three years of deficit spending the state has accumulated many billions of dollars of internal debt that will have to be repaid sometime. Dan Walters, Mercury News, 27 June 2025 These capitalization grants were originally envisioned as seed money, with future loans available as the initial and subsequent loans were repaid. Janet McCabe, The Conversation, 27 June 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for repay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repay
Verb
  • Provider taxes States can boost federal Medicaid contributions to their states through what's known as a provider tax, often levying taxes on health care providers, which raises the overall cost of a service and therefore increases the portion reimbursed by the state.
    July 1, CBS News, 1 July 2025
  • Arkansas, Missouri and Texas have already barred Planned Parenthood from getting reimbursed by Medicaid for any kind of health care.
    Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • That payment was bumped to $2 million when Blitzer took over; NWSL prices were already on the rise, and that was in line with what Angel City and the San Diego Wave paid when they were awarded teams in 2020 and 2021.
    Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 8 July 2025
  • A lot of users paid to have their dresses professionally preserved.
    Hannah Pittard, People.com, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • That 20-year Russian-Iranian Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed had no mutual defense clause, but Iran's backing for Russia's war in Ukraine with Shahed drones appears not to have been reciprocated.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
  • That, in turn, would compel the United States to reciprocate in an iterative process.
    Daniel C. Kurtzer, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • The noon Christmas in July event began with a lunch, then residents exchanged gifts during a popular seasonal game called white elephant – where typically low-cost items or interesting things lying around the house are wrapped and put in play.
    Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
  • While chasing the suspect later in the morning, officers exchanged gunfire with the man and killed him.
    Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • This level of detail positions your content as the go-to resource that satisfies even the most specific queries.
    Kevin Dam, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Judge Subramanian said the jurors must reach a unanimous verdict, but must not give up their convictions merely to return a verdict or satisfy the rest of the jurors.
    Lauryn Overhultz , Tracy Wright , Maria Paronich , Brendan McDonald, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Despite some backsliding, the EU still holds to its goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, by cutting greenhouse gases and compensating for any remaining emissions.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 4 July 2025
  • In heavy rain, allow an additional two seconds of distance to compensate for reduced traction and braking effectiveness.
    Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • Reflecting Lee’s turmoil as he’s tormented by heroin withdrawals and his not entirely requited affection for Allerton, the film is moody, and the sets reflect the interior landscapes of its characters.
    Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 16 Dec. 2024
  • In the book, the main character falls in love with an android that only pretends to requite his feelings.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 22 Mar. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Repay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repay. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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