Synonyms of satisfy

satisfy

verb

ˈsa-təs-ˌfī 

1

as in to alleviate

to put a complete end to (a physical need or desire)

the players satisfied their hunger after the game with a big pasta dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• alleviate
• slake
• indulge
• satiate
• relieve
• sate
• quench
• assuage
• gratify
• saturate
• cater (to)
• lighten
• humor
• cloy
• surfeit

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stimulate
• arouse
• excite
• pique
• tease
• tantalize

2

as in to convince

to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests

it took me a while to satisfy my attorney that I had good grounds for a lawsuit

Synonyms & Similar Words

• convince
• persuade
• bring
• induce
• get
• urge
• attract
• prevail (on or upon)
• convert
• gain
• talk (into)
• argue
• win (over)
• move
• bring around
• seduce
• tempt
• entice
• prompt
• coax
• lure
• entreat
• sell
• cajole
• exhort
• wheedle
• lead on
• beguile
• influence
• interest
• sway
• discuss
• allure
• draw
• blandish
• overpersuade
• snow
• converse
• incline
• dispute
• fast-talk
• brainwash
• moot
• blarney
• reason (with)
• debate
• chew over
• hash (over)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deter
• discourage
• dissuade
• unsell

3

as in to fulfill

to do what is required by the terms of

the contractor had clearly failed to satisfy the terms of the agreement

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fulfill
• keep
• meet
• complete
• fill
• answer
• comply (with)
• make good
• abide by
• redeem
• finalize
• accomplish
• achieve
• perfect
• execute
• conclude
• finish
• make
• carry out
• effect
• consummate
• bring about
• perform
• commit
• bring off
• discharge
• compass
• follow through (with)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• violate
• break
• breach
• transgress
• forget
• ignore
• disregard
• slight
• pass over
• overlook
• neglect
• default (on)
• overpass

4

as in to please

to give satisfaction to

a hot dinner and a relaxing massage never fails to satisfy her after a long week at work

Synonyms & Similar Words

• please
• delight
• warm
• feast
• gratify
• suit
• amuse
• agree (with)
• appease
• entertain
• tickle
• thrill
• content
• pleasure
• gladden
• glad
• soothe
• rejoice
• placate
• satiate
• excite
• sate
• comfort
• mollify
• pacify
• gas
• quench
• calm
• assuage
• titillate
• captivate
• charm
• galvanize
• treat
• divert
• cater (to)
• indulge
• pamper
• spoil
• humor
• coddle
• mollycoddle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• annoy
• bother
• aggravate
• get
• put out
• displease
• irritate
• cross
• pique
• perturb
• vex
• provoke
• irk
• exasperate
• bug
• anger
• infuriate
• outrage
• inflame
• grate
• chafe
• rile
• enrage
• ruffle
• rouse
• rankle
• disturb
• gall
• distress
• roil
• upset
• agitate
• incense
• harass
• madden
• steam up
• offend
• fret
• pester
• nettle
• harry
• insult
• peeve
• affront

5

as in to compensate

to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury

the owners of the restaurant were generously satisfied for any business lost during the filming

Synonyms & Similar Words

• compensate
• reimburse
• indemnify
• pay
• repay
• recoup
• remunerate
• requite
• recompense
• refund
• redress
• remedy
• repair
• discharge
• quit

Synonym Chooser

How is the word satisfy distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of satisfy are compensate, indemnify, pay, recompense, reimburse, remunerate, and repay. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

all creditors will be satisfied in full

When would compensate be a good substitute for satisfy?

The words compensate and satisfy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

When could indemnify be used to replace satisfy?

The synonyms indemnify and satisfy are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 satisfy?

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

paid their bills

Where would recompense be a reasonable alternative to satisfy?

While in some cases nearly identical to satisfy, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

When is reimburse a more appropriate choice than satisfy?

While the synonyms reimburse and satisfy are close in meaning, reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

When can remunerate be used instead of satisfy?

The words remunerate and satisfy can be used in similar contexts, but 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 repay be a better fit than satisfy?

The meanings of repay and satisfy largely overlap; however, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of satisfy

That didn’t satisfy plan commission members, who wanted a professional traffic study done. — Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026

The fairytale 12th-century castle, Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts) has enough battlements, turrets and crenellations to satisfy history buffs and small children. — Adrienne Wyper, TheWeek, 17 Sep. 2026

His detail oriented self found something satisfying in creating the near-perfect pasta. — Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2026

Havana enacted 176 economic reforms in June, which expanded space for the private sector, but this did not satisfy Washington. — Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026