Thesaurus results for REIMBURSE

Q: How is the word 'reimburse' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of reimburse are compensate , indemnify , pay , recompense , remunerate , repay , and satisfy . While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit. // reimbursed employees for expenses

Q: When is 'compensate' a more appropriate choice than 'reimburse'?

Although the words compensate and reimburse have much in common, compensate implies a making up for services rendered. // an attorney well compensated for her services

Q: When would 'indemnify' be a good substitute for 'reimburse'?

The synonyms indemnify and reimburse are sometimes interchangeable, but indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare. // indemnified the families of the dead miners

Q: When might 'pay' be a better fit than 'reimburse'?

The meanings of pay and reimburse largely overlap; however, pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred. // paid their bills

Q: When is it sensible to use 'recompense' instead of 'reimburse'?

While the synonyms recompense and reimburse are close in meaning, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward. // passengers were recompensed for the delay

Q: When can 'remunerate' be used instead of 'reimburse'?

The words remunerate and reimburse 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

Q: When could 'repay' be used to replace 'reimburse'?

The words repay and reimburse are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount. // repay a favor with a favor

Q: Where would 'satisfy' be a reasonable alternative to 'reimburse'?

In some situations, the words satisfy and reimburse are roughly equivalent. However, satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law. // all creditors will be satisfied in full

reimburse

verb

ˌrē-əm-ˈbərs

Definition of reimburse

as in to repay

to make a return payment to make sure you keep your receipts so we can reimburse you for your expenses

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word reimburse distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of reimburse are compensate, indemnify, pay, recompense, remunerate, repay, and satisfy. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

When is compensate a more appropriate choice than reimburse?

Although the words compensate and reimburse have much in common, compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

When would indemnify be a good substitute for reimburse?

The synonyms indemnify and reimburse 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 reimburse?

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

paid their bills

When is it sensible to use recompense instead of reimburse?

While the synonyms recompense and reimburse are close in meaning, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

When can remunerate be used instead of reimburse?

The words remunerate and reimburse 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 could repay be used to replace reimburse?

The words repay and reimburse are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

Where would satisfy be a reasonable alternative to reimburse?

In some situations, the words satisfy and reimburse are roughly equivalent. However, 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 reimburse The prescriptions were often billed to and reimbursed by Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs, the lawsuit says. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026 A little under $700,000 was improperly reimbursed because those dollars went towards visits to an escape room, restaurants, bars, a strip club and a gym, according to investigators. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026 Besides paternity and maternity leave, the company helps pay off student loans, provides support for aging parents, reimburses IVF and surrogacy expenses, and offers support programs for neurodiverse employees and parents of neurodiverse children. — Tamlin Magee, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026 If the deal closes, the costs would be reimbursed by the bonds. — Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reimburse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reimburse

Verb

Borrowers struggle to repay, lenders suffer losses, and a market crash can spiral into a financial crisis and a painful recession.

— Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 20 Oct. 2026
Oracle's 5-year credit default swaps Credit default swaps are contracts where buyers pay for protection in case the borrower can't repay its debt.

— Michelle Fox, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of repay

Verb

If all goes well, that could be a massive amount of capital in one fund, and still be too little to compensate for jobs lost to AI.

— Diane Brady, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
The settlement requires Instacart to establish a fund of up to $4 million to compensate job applicants and people who were allegedly deterred from applying to Instacart between December 2023 and February 2026.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of compensate

Browse Nearby Words

reimagining

reimburse

reimbursed

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“Reimburse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reimburse. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of reimburse

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