REMUNERATE Synonyms: 20 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of remunerate are compensate , indemnify , pay , recompense , reimburse , repay , and satisfy . While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," 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 'compensate' be used to replace 'remunerate'?

The synonyms compensate and remunerate are sometimes interchangeable, but compensate implies a making up for services rendered. // an attorney well compensated for her services

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

While in some cases nearly identical to remunerate , 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 'remunerate'?

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

Q: When would 'recompense' be a good substitute for 'remunerate'?

The words recompense and remunerate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward. // passengers were recompensed for the delay

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

The words reimburse and remunerate can be used in similar contexts, but reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit. // reimbursed employees for expenses

Q: When is 'repay' a more appropriate choice than 'remunerate'?

In some situations, the words repay and remunerate are roughly equivalent. However, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount. // repay a favor with a favor

Q: In what contexts can 'satisfy' take the place of 'remunerate'?

The meanings of satisfy and remunerate largely overlap; however, satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law. // all creditors will be satisfied in full

remunerate

verb

ri-ˈmyü-nə-ˌrāt

Definition of remunerate next

as in to compensate

to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received promptly remunerated the repair company for fixing the dryer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stiff

as in to reimburse

to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury the negligent landlord must remunerate those made homeless by the fire by finding new housing for them at his own expense

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word remunerate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of remunerate are compensate, indemnify, pay, recompense, reimburse, repay, and satisfy. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," 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 compensate be used to replace remunerate?

The synonyms compensate and remunerate are sometimes interchangeable, but compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

When can indemnify be used instead of remunerate?

While in some cases nearly identical to remunerate, 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 remunerate?

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

paid their bills

When would recompense be a good substitute for remunerate?

The words recompense and remunerate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

When might reimburse be a better fit than remunerate?

The words reimburse and remunerate can be used in similar contexts, but reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

When is repay a more appropriate choice than remunerate?

In some situations, the words repay and remunerate are roughly equivalent. However, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

In what contexts can satisfy take the place of remunerate?

The meanings of satisfy and remunerate largely overlap; however, satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

all creditors will be satisfied in full

Examples 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 remunerate The majority of truly important work is not highly remunerated. —

Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2024 However, the writers who create the stories which appear on these platforms are not being adequately remunerated for their work. —

K.j. Yossman, Variety, 12 Sep. 2023 The lawsuit makes no specific monetary demand but asks that a jury require Tesla to remunerate alleged victims for the conduct they were subjected to and pay other damages, as appropriate. —

Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 28 Sep. 2023 The Global Fund recently became the first major international health organization to require countries that receive its grants to budget what delivery would be done by community health workers and the funding gap for remunerating them. —

Stephanie Nolen Tiksa Negeri, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2023 See all Example Sentences for remunerate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for remunerate

Verb

The water rushing along the road flutters The dress on the corpse of a woman, As the city descends long days and nights Into legend, which won’t compensate for its disasters.

Czeslaw Milosz, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
But the law says that any workers who receive less than the $16.35 minimum wage must be compensated by the restaurants.

Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 5 Jan. 2025