redeem

1
2
as in to save
to free from captivity or punishment by paying a price the government has consistently refused to redeem hostages captured by terrorists

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in to forgive
to free from the penalties or consequences of sin the belief that sinners are redeemed by their faith in God

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in to rehabilitate
to make better in behavior or character the unfaithful husband made a determined effort to redeem himself in the eyes of his wife and children

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
as in to compensate
to make up for (an offense) quickly redeemed the offending remark with a sincere and unconditional apology

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb redeem contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of redeem are deliver, ransom, reclaim, rescue, and save. While all these words mean "to set free from confinement or danger," redeem implies releasing from bondage or penalties by giving what is demanded or necessary.

job training designed to redeem school dropouts from chronic unemployment

When is deliver a more appropriate choice than redeem?

The words deliver and redeem can be used in similar contexts, but deliver implies release usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering.

delivered his people from bondage

When can ransom be used instead of redeem?

Although the words ransom and redeem have much in common, ransom specifically applies to buying out of captivity.

tried to ransom the kidnap victim

When might reclaim be a better fit than redeem?

The synonyms reclaim and redeem are sometimes interchangeable, but reclaim suggests a bringing back to a former state or condition of someone or something abandoned or debased.

reclaimed long-abandoned farms

When would rescue be a good substitute for redeem?

While in some cases nearly identical to redeem, rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action.

rescued the crew of a sinking ship

In what contexts can save take the place of redeem?

The words save and redeem are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, save may replace any of the foregoing terms; it may further imply a preserving or maintaining for usefulness or continued existence.

an operation that saved my life

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 redeem In the case of outages, these customers would not get bill credits but would be given the option to redeem a reward card that's valued at $5 or more. Ars Technica, 8 Jan. 2025 Folks who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, or iPod may redeem a free three-month subscription of Apple TV+. Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2025 Caesars Palace Online Casino’s standout feature is its exceptional rewards program, Caesars Rewards, which can be redeemed at any physical location or online from the app. Matthew Gover, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2025 Stories like these can tap into a rescue fantasy, where love and care are seen as transformative forces capable of redeeming a troubled man. Mark Travers, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for redeem 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for redeem
Verb
  • Parents and school boards have broad discretion to fulfill that important responsibility.
    Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 25 Jan. 2025
  • The bookstore’s popularity has allowed Lewis, who is a longtime practitioner in the field of Afrocentric mental health, to fulfill a dream.
    Tony Perrottet, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The program allows for state income tax exemption for five years, offering investors in big projects to save up to hundreds of thousands of dollars a year per project in property tax savings.
    Alexandra Berzon, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
  • That’s the kind of obscure situation Red Note has saved people out of.
    Yaling Jiang, TIME, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • For the educators, that creates an amusing challenge: The Sunny gang isn’t a pack of wayward teenagers waiting for an understanding mentor to show them the light, and their moral failures can’t be rehabilitated with a pep talk.
    Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Auditors also noted the social and educational efforts to rehabilitate prisoners and ready them to re-enter society.
    Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • If its landfill revenue falls, the county may have to compensate.
    Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Díaz de la Portilla is asking to be compensated for his attorneys’ fees and costs.
    Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • While Mikhail managed to escape by climbing out a window and taking refuge in a nearby nunnery, the men took his son hostage, and Mikhail was not able to ransom him until several days later.
    Youmna Melhem Chamieh, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
  • The contributions were indeed necessary, for without them there would be no way, for example, to ransom Jewish captives (a major concern of the Diaspora communities throughout the Middle Ages), help the poor and the sick, provide for orphans, or fund synagogues and schools.
    Michael Walzer, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2011
Verb
  • America will reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, most powerful, most respected nation on earth, inspiring the awe and admiration of the entire world.
    Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025
  • This approach empowers brands to reclaim control of their narrative while effectively engaging with their audiences.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • However, the funds exchanged between the two brothers reflected a loan; James Biden repaid his brother after two major business deals, one with a U.S. company while the other came shortly after a deal Hunter Biden secured with a Chinese company.
    Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Seth Meyers loves to take a photo with a fan, Seth Meyers is a conscientious tipper, Aidy Bryant hasn’t gone cashless in this world of Apple Pay, and Meyers always repays his debts.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • After that, Plowright enjoyed a career resurgence at the age of 60, satisfying both upmarket tastes and more commercial fare.
    Pan Pylas, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Ah, the foot mask that launched a thousand gross, yet oddly satisfying videos.
    Amy Wilkinson, SELF, 16 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near redeem

Cite this Entry

“Redeem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/redeem. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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