SATISFY Synonyms: 206 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of satisfy are compensate , indemnify , pay , recompense , reimburse , remunerate , and repay . While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law. // all creditors will be satisfied in full

Q: When would 'compensate' be a good substitute for 'satisfy'?

The words compensate and satisfy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, compensate implies a making up for services rendered. // an attorney well compensated for her services

Q: When could 'indemnify' be used to replace 'satisfy'?

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

Q: When is it sensible to use 'pay' instead of 'satisfy'?

Although the words pay and satisfy have much in common, pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred. // paid their bills

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

While in some cases nearly identical to satisfy , recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward. // passengers were recompensed for the delay

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

While the synonyms reimburse and satisfy are close in meaning, reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit. // reimbursed employees for expenses

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

The words remunerate and satisfy 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 might 'repay' be a better fit than 'satisfy'?

The meanings of repay and satisfy largely overlap; however, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount. // repay a favor with a favor

satisfy

verb

ˈsa-təs-ˌfī

Definition of satisfy

as in to alleviate

to put a complete end to (a physical need or desire) the players satisfied their hunger after the game with a big pasta dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to convince

to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests it took me a while to satisfy my attorney that I had good grounds for a lawsuit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to fulfill

to do what is required by the terms of the contractor had clearly failed to satisfy the terms of the agreement

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to please

to give satisfaction to a hot dinner and a relaxing massage never fails to satisfy her after a long week at work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to compensate

to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury the owners of the restaurant were generously satisfied for any business lost during the filming

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word satisfy distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of satisfy are compensate, indemnify, pay, recompense, reimburse, remunerate, and repay. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

all creditors will be satisfied in full

When would compensate be a good substitute for satisfy?

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

an attorney well compensated for her services

When could indemnify be used to replace satisfy?

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

indemnified the families of the dead miners

When is it sensible to use pay instead of satisfy?

Although the words pay and satisfy have much in common, pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

Where would recompense be a reasonable alternative to satisfy?

While in some cases nearly identical to satisfy, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

When is reimburse a more appropriate choice than satisfy?

While the synonyms reimburse and satisfy are close in meaning, reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

When can remunerate be used instead of satisfy?

The words remunerate and satisfy 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 might repay be a better fit than satisfy?

The meanings of repay and satisfy largely overlap; however, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

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 satisfy Chips aren’t the only way to satisfy a craving for something crunchy. — Jennifer Berger, Verywell Health, 31 Aug. 2026 Still, the record top-line figure is a modest increase over this year’s budget, lagging South Korea and Taiwan, and may prove too incremental to satisfy US demands. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 31 Aug. 2026 The brightness and satisfying variety in textures and flavors brought me back to life after a long day of dancing and eating. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 Nick Interlandi’s soundscapes swell with the rat-a-tat of machine guns, or zero in on the precise, satisfying crunch of glass cracking under bone, while Oren Soffer’s cinematography runs the gamut from sickly clinical to startlingly sensual. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for satisfy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for satisfy

Verb

He was appointed as a special advisor for water infrastructure after last year’s rupture and prepared a report for the government on improvements to alleviate the island’s water problems.

— Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
But the Cloaca Maxima was primarily designed to drain marshland and alleviate flooding.

— Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of alleviate

Verb

For good measure, Pabst’s social media updates took a tongue-in-cheek approach that may have actually convinced people the posts were more playful than actual pleas for help.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Greyson said nearly five decades of studying near-death experiences has convinced him there is probably something after death.

— Michael Collins, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of convince

Verb

During the holidays, that could mean repositioning inventory as demand shifts, identifying supplier or transportation delays sooner, or dynamically finding the fastest and most cost-effective way to fulfill an order when conditions change.

— Jill Standish, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Rather than chasing virality and social media hits, Obeid advises restaurants to focus deeper on creating businesses that fulfill a need for the community around them.

— Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of fulfill

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

Bangkok’s thirst for new rooftop cocktail bars is being slaked these days at Sanctuary, which offers a view of the glimmering Sukhumvit strip — Bangkok’s Broadway — 34 floors below.

— The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026
Will Frances throw over Jol for Bill from True Blood, or is her thirst for vengeance not yet slaked?

— Alice Burton, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026

Definition of slake

Verb

But persuading other American companies to follow Chevron into Venezuela remains one of Washington’s biggest challenges.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
Proponents may face an uphill battle persuading Newsom to sign the bill, which creates a unique revenue stream to pay for the program.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of persuade

Verb

In a rebuttal argument, prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo pointed to a scrapbook Davis kept containing articles about Shakur.

— Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Details of the contract have been mostly kept secret, as both companies said the agreement contained confidential business information.

— Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of keep

Browse Nearby Words

satisfies

satisfy

satisfying

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“Satisfy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/satisfy. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of satisfy

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