pay 1 of 2

Definition of paynext
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
The financial struggles led to them not being able to pay vendors, which led key brands to stop sending the retailers products to sell, further accelerating its decline. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 30 June 2026 Writing a Check Writing checks has gotten less and less common thanks to the prominence of online bill pay and the ease of paying with a card or via app (like Venmo). Jillian Pretzel, Parents, 30 June 2026
Noun
Leaders in many sectors focused on earnings protection rather than growth, reducing hiring to rein in rising labor costs, including pay, healthcare and retirement. John M. Bremen, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 Because the city owns Palmetto Research Park, officials were able to hold out and say no to several redevelopment opportunities the past four years in order to bring in high-pay jobs, said Rock Hill Mayor John Gettys. John Marks, Charlotte Observer, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay
Verb
  • Then incorporate it into performance reviews, and create structures to compensate for the extra time and emotional energy spent on it.
    Holly Corbett, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Douglas said automatic gratuities also serve a practical purpose for larger parties, helping to ensure servers are fairly compensated for the additional coordination and service those tables require.
    Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • The pair met in English class on the first day of their freshman year.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • The platform is scalable and can be deployed to meet the power demands of AI data centers and even support the grid.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • During our time away, our neighbors visited with us at the hospital, looked after our house and came over daily to feed and spend time with our cat.
    Dawn M. Turner, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • American doctors are so conspicuously well-paid that a group of economic researchers spent years trying to figure out why.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Verb
  • Issues with the test The Presidential Physical Fitness Test has previously yielded negative results among some students, according to Goodway.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 1 July 2026
  • The technology was part of a broader effort by a working group of coaches and analysts to find minor advantages that could yield major benefits at the World Cup, both in shootouts and on set pieces, including free kicks and corner kicks.
    Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • The point of the Top 10 lists, Chandrasekaran said, is to steer young adults to employers that are actively hiring recent graduates into jobs that can seed meaningful careers.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 29 June 2026
  • André Duvenhage, research director at South Africa’s North-West University, said migrants are often hired because employers see them as willing to work for lower wages and, as non-citizens, they are typically not protected by as many labor protections.
    Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • The Sacramento Kings traded guard Devin Carter and a second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for salary cap relief Monday.
    Ruyuan Li. Summary produced by AI assistance, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026
  • Book deals regularly eclipse Supreme Court justices' $300,000 government salaries.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • Anderson has since remarried and currently works as chief of staff for corporate development at payment technology company Celero Commerce.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • These businesses live or die by people answering phones, booking jobs, chasing payments and calming down upset customers.
    Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • Under the standard plan, borrowers will have between 10 years and 25 years to repay their loans depending on the amount borrowed.
    Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • Getty Images Key Facts Last year’s spending bill imposed a number of changes on how student loans are capped, regulated and repaid, including establishing new repayment plans and caps on loans.
    Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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