recompense 1 of 2

recompense

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to compensate
to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received the cash-strapped museum can recompense lecturers with only token honorariums

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to pay
to give what is owed for that company still needs to recompense the work that the contractor finished last month

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to reimburse
to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury the government has yet to adequately recompense the property owners for the land taken for the new highway

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in to repay
to make a return for the wealthy gentleman told the poor little girl she could recompense his generosity simply by enjoying her new toys

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word recompense distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of recompense are compensate, indemnify, pay, reimburse, remunerate, repay, and satisfy. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

In what contexts can compensate take the place of recompense?

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

an attorney well compensated for her services

When would indemnify be a good substitute for recompense?

The synonyms indemnify and recompense are sometimes interchangeable, but indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

When might pay be a better fit than recompense?

The meanings of pay and recompense largely overlap; however, pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

When can reimburse be used instead of recompense?

In some situations, the words reimburse and recompense are roughly equivalent. However, reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

When is it sensible to use remunerate instead of recompense?

The words remunerate and recompense 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 is repay a more appropriate choice than recompense?

While the synonyms repay and recompense are close in meaning, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

Where would satisfy be a reasonable alternative to recompense?

While in some cases nearly identical to recompense, 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 recompense
Noun
Bates is pained to see teenagers (representing 12% of the city population), brazenly and without recompense, running around, destroying the lives of others, and also for those whose lives were cut short in middle age by said juveniles. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 6 June 2025 Some states and localities have filed lawsuits seeking recompense for the damage allegedly caused to their area by climate change. Josiah Neeley, Oc Register, 21 May 2025
Verb
Thurber complained to him about being asked to recompense The New Yorker for a sixty-dollar overpayment; writers got paid by the word (still do), and the accounting department had calculated that the final word count on a certain Thurber story was less than the original word count. Mary Norris, The New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2023 European countries like Germany and the UK have shored up money for their violent role in suppressing Namibian and Kenyan protests, but the Netherlands is the first to publicly acknowledge and recompense for slavery. Jasmine Browley, Essence, 23 Sep. 2022 See All Example Sentences for recompense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recompense
Noun
  • And the new role had a different sort of perk, in the form of compensation.
    David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • In 2025, green jobs offer not just solid compensation but also the chance to influence policy, equity, and resilience.
    Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Likewise, the internet has made fundraising much easier with the use of online payment methods, which are easy to set up and difficult to trace.
    Richard Frankel, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
  • In most cases, at least 75% of federal funds must go directly to wages and benefits for participants, with the payments usually being made by the local and statewide organizations that recruit the participants and place them into host agencies.
    Cal J. Halvorsen, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Most available positions are informal, poorly compensated and offer little stability or room for career growth.
    Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
  • That’s the extent to which Netzer was considered the key man beforehand, but his poor form eventually cost him a place in the West German starting XI, and the side compensated for his absence through discipline and energy rather than flair.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Social media companies and influencers paid to promote pharmaceutical offerings without proper disclosures will also be targeted by the federal government, according to CNBC, which cited unnamed senior officials.
    Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The backslide is worse for Black women, who in 2024 were paid 65 cents for every dollar paid to White men.
    Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • States’ restitution penalties are established to deter poaching, but also to ensure the wildlife agency is reimbursed for the loss of a poached trophy animal.
    Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Homeowners may be reimbursed for costs associated with flood damage now that federal relief has been approved, and the county will also be able to seek reimbursement for public damage.
    JR Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Merdeka Gold will use bulk of the funds raised from the IPO to repay debt, while the rest will be used for working capital to support its operation.
    Yessar Rosendar, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The agency began issuing overpayment notices on April 25, 2025, and would start withholding 50% of the recipient's benefits after about 90 days (or approximately July 24, at the earliest), until the overpayment is repaid.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Is there anything to fear in the way Shillingford describes what reparations for Black and Indigenous people looks like to her?
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Its first-ever color feature, In the Shadow of Honor, which was going to be filmed in Indonesia, was canceled due to disagreements between the two countries related to colonial war reparations.
    Michael Taube, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The judge declined to grant substantial monetary damages to the husband, however.
    Evan Mealins, The Tennessean, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The complaint says McNeil suffered a range of injuries from the incident, including a concussion, and seeks $200,000 in damages.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Recompense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recompense. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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