pay 1 of 2

1
as in to compensate
to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received we need to pay the cashier and then we can leave

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to meet
to give what is owed for you ought to pay that bill before it's overdue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
as in to yield
to produce as revenue an investment paying six percent

Synonyms & Similar Words

5

pay

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word pay distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of pay are compensate, indemnify, recompense, reimburse, remunerate, repay, and satisfy. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

When might compensate be a better fit than pay?

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

an attorney well compensated for her services

When can indemnify be used instead of pay?

Although the words indemnify and pay have much in common, indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

When would recompense be a good substitute for pay?

The meanings of recompense and pay largely overlap; however, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

When could reimburse be used to replace pay?

The synonyms reimburse and pay are sometimes interchangeable, but reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

Where would remunerate be a reasonable alternative to pay?

In some situations, the words remunerate and pay are roughly equivalent. However, 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 is it sensible to use repay instead of pay?

While in some cases nearly identical to pay, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

When is satisfy a more appropriate choice than pay?

While the synonyms satisfy and pay are close in meaning, 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 pay
Verb
That is to say, preventing e-commerce players like Shein and Temu from shipping direct-to-consumer orders into the U.S. without duties while other companies pay tariffs to import their inventory en masse. Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 3 Apr. 2025 Flav has been open about his sobriety journey of the last few years and celebrated his four-year mark on World Mental Health Day by paying for fans’ online therapy. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
In return, Hazard joined their mission, which is making the people in power pay for their negligence. Ryan Easby, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2025 The pay boost includes higher stock grants and annual bonuses, with the latter reaching 100% of base pay. Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay
Verb
  • We don’t get compensated until something goes into production.
    Lauren Coates, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Both Labor and the coalition pledged to directly intervene, if necessary, by exercising the power to acquire the lease and compensating Landbridge Group.
    John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The policy was met with public outcry and condemnation from pediatric associations, faith leaders, and even members of Trump’s party.
    Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • And as of Thursday, nearly $8,000 of the $9,000 target had been met.
    Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Massey spent the last seven years re-launching the company as president and CEO under Rob Stringer, chairman of Sony Music Group.
    Thania Garcia, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Levine most recently spent a year as CEO of Kevin Hart’s media company Hartbeat.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • These super wealthy tax filers had an average tax rate of 25.4%, yielding a total income tax of about $10.5 billion.
    Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2025
  • This yields a poor Cash-to-Assets Ratio of 0.5% (vs. 14.8% for S&P 500) How Resilient Is RH Stock During A Downturn?
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • As for Booth, he was hired in 2017 as the assistant general manager.
    Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Craig Breslow, Yale-educated and a longtime pro, was newly hired in the job as chief baseball officer, tasked with reversing a multi-year trend to the bottom of the American League East.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Instead, the Astros dumped his salary during their transformative winter.
    Chandler Rome, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The 2024 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees featured two iconic franchises whose financial privilege is challenging Major League Baseball to answer competitive balance questions and outcries for a salary cap.
    Wayne G. McDonnell, Jr., Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The inaugural event marked the first time players collected an NIL payment for performance in a postseason basketball tournament.
    Matt Rybaltowski, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Commercial partnerships typically contain clauses that will see payments reduced upon relegation, some even ceasing.
    Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • When asked if Rambo ever provided a reason for not repaying her, Patel said no.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2025
  • The feds said trial evidence would have proven how Adams partly repaid the bribes by forcing former FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro to disregard safety concerns by prematurely opening a skyscraper in Midtown housing Turkey’s consulate in time for a visit by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
    Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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