atone

verb

Definition of atonenext
as in to apologize

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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 atone Edmundson, who’d lost MacKinnon on his first goal, atoned by receiving Kempe’s pass in the high slot and flicking a shot that clipped Wedgewood on its way into the net. — Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026 For decades after the war, Germany’s attempts to atone for that history through a deep commitment to pacifism obliged defense companies to keep a low profile, avoiding sponsorships and splashy ad campaigns. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026 And Germany specifically has rather strict speech laws that strongly limit criticism of Israel, part of Germany’s attempts to atone for its central role in the Holocaust. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026 Black American Catholics, activists and scholars have long called for the Holy See to atone for its role in the colonial-era trade in human beings, beyond generic apologies for the involvement of individual Christians. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for atone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atone
  1. apologize
  2. confess
  3. palliate
  4. excuse
  5. whitewash
  6. justify
  7. rationalize
Verb
  • This situation has been addressed, and everyone involved has apologized.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 2 July 2026
  • JoongAng Group vice chair Hong Jeong-do apologized at a news conference.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 July 2026
Definition of apologize
Verb
  • At the time, the movie superstar confessed to nervously practicing the song alone in his pickup truck, in his garage, to get the complicated rap right.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • Emerald Isle, North Carolina, confesses its obvious charms—brilliant blue-green waters, a verdant maritime forest, and lush marshes—in its name.
    — Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 7 July 2026
Definition of confess
Verb
  • Radiation can also be used to palliate painful bone metastases, as well as chemotherapy.
    — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 1 Oct. 2024
  • Senior-home avatars who are designed to palliate dementia patients in their darkest days.
    — Longreads, Longreads, 12 Apr. 2024
Definition of palliate
Verb
  • Feeling overwhelmed, Martinez excused herself to the bathroom to collect her thoughts.
    — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
  • Medellín excused herself and headed across the street — there was more fiesta to enjoy.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of excuse
Verb
  • And as much as people wanna whitewash it, that’s part of the history too.
    — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
  • Burns, who is Black, also pushed back on criticisms that the state’s new Black history curriculum whitewashes the history of slavery and oppression in America.
    — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
Definition of whitewash
Verb
  • Wall Street is increasingly punishing Big Tech companies for spending on AI without profits to justify it.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • Thus far, Meta was only monetizing AI through its advertising, which is a great business but can be cyclical and was not enough to justify using all its cash flow.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 1 July 2026
Definition of justify
Verb
  • His larger diagnosis is that the division machine has made every disagreement existential — and that once a political difference becomes sacred, people will rationalize almost anything to defeat the other side.
    — Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • These activists have rationalized Hamas’ terrorist attacks and embraced outright antisemitism.
    — Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2026
Definition of rationalize

Browse Nearby Words

at once
atone
atoned
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Cite this Entry

“Atone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atone. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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