pay 1 of 2

1
as in to compensate
to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received we need to pay the cashier and then we can leave

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to meet
to give what is owed for you ought to pay that bill before it's overdue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
as in to yield
to produce as revenue an investment paying six percent

Synonyms & Similar Words

5

pay

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word pay distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of pay are compensate, indemnify, recompense, reimburse, remunerate, repay, and satisfy. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

When might compensate be a better fit than pay?

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

an attorney well compensated for her services

When can indemnify be used instead of pay?

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

indemnified the families of the dead miners

When would recompense be a good substitute for pay?

The meanings of recompense and pay largely overlap; however, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

When could reimburse be used to replace pay?

The synonyms reimburse and pay are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 pay?

In some situations, the words remunerate and pay are roughly equivalent. However, 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 is it sensible to use repay instead of pay?

While in some cases nearly identical to pay, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

When is satisfy a more appropriate choice than pay?

While the synonyms satisfy and pay are close in meaning, 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 pay
Verb
Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson is the mission commander with aviator John Shoffner as pilot and two mission specialist seats paid for by the Saudi Space Commission, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni. Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025 Speaking after an assessment meeting with the army’s chief of staff, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Iran will pay a heavy price for harming Israeli citizens. Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2025
Noun
Early childhood education programs will have access to state grants that will require adherence to a pay structure equal to public school teachers, Bye said. Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2025 In addition to Ekblad, center Sam Bennett is also a pending free agent and will be due a hefty pay raise from his current deal that is paying him an average of $4.425 million per season. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for pay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay
Verb
  • As part of the settlement, Siemens Mobility agreed to compensate the employee — who filed a complaint with the agency in 2023 — without admitting to any liability.
    Ethan Wolin, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2025
  • The company is actively striving to diversify its revenue sources; however, the swift decline in COVID-19 vaccine sales has outstripped its ability to quickly compensate for these losses, resulting in the significant fall in its stock price.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Verb
  • Hong Kong’s relentless pace has inspired a wellness revolution where ancient rituals meet cutting-edge science.
    Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
  • The diplomat noted that the consulate is assisting Hondurans even without appointments and has opened on Saturdays to meet demand.
    Sonia Osorio, Miami Herald, 8 June 2025
Verb
  • The turtle's transmitters will last two months, allowing Lang and partnering technicians to track how the turtles spend their summer.
    Rachel Flynn, People.com, 6 June 2025
  • One-quarter of all U.S. consumers also plans to decrease spending or abstain from buying on Amazon Prime Day this summer, according to data from Akeneo.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • The majority of models that did get implemented failed to yield cost savings.
    Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • The strikes came ahead of a second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, which failed to yield concrete progress toward a deal but did produce a new agreement on prisoner swaps.
    Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • The company hired McKinsey to develop a growth playbook for CNN.
    Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
  • Yet while hiring generally has slowed, other economists figured job growth remained sturdy last month as companies frustrated by labor shortages during the pandemic continued to curtail layoffs.
    Paul Davidson, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Noun
  • The two have grown close in the months since Fried signed an eight-year, $218 million deal with the Yankees, which slightly bested Rodón’s $27 million average annual salary.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 8 June 2025
  • Americans earning a regular salary may have trouble living comfortably in all 50 states.
    Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 7 June 2025
Noun
  • Social Security workers are sounding the alarm that some beneficiaries could see payment delays as the agency undergoes significant changes in the next few weeks.
    Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
  • Although no payments are due at this time, interest continues to accrue on your loan(s) during the forbearance period.
    Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Chicago Heights will receive a loan of $5 million, of which $2 million doesn’t need to be repaid, toward replacing nearly 300 water lines.
    Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025
  • How much of that outstanding debt schools end up having to repay would depend on some complicated math, including the program's cost and how much money its graduates earn.
    Cory Turner, NPR, 12 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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