Thesaurus results for ATONE (FOR)

atone (for)

verb

ə-ˈtōn

Definition of atone (for)

as in to compensate

to make up for (an offense) tried to atone for forgetting their anniversary by giving his wife a truly extravagant gift

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for atone (for)

Verb

The official says authorities compensated residents for their land in 1957 after it was seized to build the capital city, Islamabad.

— Diaa Hadid, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026
The bill would compensate community solar developers and customers at a rate that advocates say more accurately accounts for the savings solar brings to the grid, especially on hot days when the system is stressed.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of compensate

Verb

Because Leonard and the NBA Players Association signed off on his repaying $700,000, there was no further process that would require an arbitrator.

— John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
If those IOUs are set to be repaid many years from now, they’re called bonds.

— Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of repay

Verb

And although the Maroon reissue featured OG-style Nike Air branding, it wasn’t featured on the Sport Blue release just one year prior — an omission Nike will reportedly seek to correct on the forthcoming 2027 drop.

— Riley Jones, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2026
Counsell was also unsure if correcting or altering mechanics could solve the issue.

— Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of correct

Verb

Larded throughout this scene is that unmistakable suggestion, yet again, that the play exists because its playwright needed — if not to right a cosmic wrong — to create a place to house or expiate his grief.

— Rhoda Feng, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
But now Epstein, 49, is wearing a different hat, and hoping to expiate his unintended sins against a sport that has been his lifelong passion.

— David Axelrod, CNN, 1 Apr. 2023

Definition of expiate

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.

Browse Nearby Words

atoned (for)

atone (for)

atonement

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Atone (for).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atone%20%28for%29. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of atone (for)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inexorable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes