Definition of atone (for)next
as in to compensate
to make up for (an offense) tried to atone for forgetting their anniversary by giving his wife a truly extravagant gift

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for atone (for)
Verb
  • Restitution for the victims has yet to be decided, but the government has argued that they should be compensated for years of therapy, loss of income, and other related losses.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
  • David’s publisher, Radler, compensates authors for their laughable advances with a staggering number of complimentary copies.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • But the news took a turn when employees reportedly were given a phishing test email disguised as a chance to redeem their rings.
    — Ryan Morik OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Each point is worth 1 cent and 200 points can be redeemed for $2 off convenience store items or an extra 5 cents per gallon discount on fuel.
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The school was paid for with a combination of state funds, district funds and a state loan the charter would have to repay.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • When inflation remains elevated, investors generally demand higher yields on long-term bonds to compensate for the declining purchasing power of the money they'll eventually be repaid.
    — Mike Winters, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Ahead of a critical divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, the need to correct the problems sooner rather than later has become dire after a 2-4 start.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Spotting where physical results diverge from computer models allows technical teams to correct their simulation software before committing to final prototype hardware.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • They are bound together not only by their shared grief, but also by the unspoken guilt and blame that Lux and Ella can only hope to expiate through each other.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Larded throughout this scene is that unmistakable suggestion, yet again, that the play exists because its playwright needed — if not to right a cosmic wrong — to create a place to house or expiate his grief.
    — Rhoda Feng, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Atone (for).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atone%20%28for%29. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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