PAY Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

pay 1 of 2

verb

ˈpā

Definition of pay

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stiff

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

repudiate

as in to spend

to hand over or use up in payment rock fans were willing to pay enormous sums to get into the concert

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to yield

to produce as revenue an investment paying six percent

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to hire

to provide with a paying job pay someone to mow the lawn for the summer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pay

2 of 2

noun

as in salary

the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services it's difficult to support two children on her pay

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in payment

something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services we should demand pay for all the overtime we're putting in

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Anyone contemplating retirement abroad should investigate insurance, emergency arrangements and the ability to pay upfront before making the move. — Lance B. Fulford, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026 Traders will be paying close attention to what’s ahead on the artificial intelligence front with both companies as the AI trade undergoes turbulence. — Ananya Chetia,lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2026

Noun

Nurses were also dismayed by pay cuts last year, Oswald said. — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 The affiliates then negotiate with the pay-TV providers and charge them retrans fees. — Alex Sherman, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pay

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay

Verb

If all goes well, that could be a massive amount of capital in one fund, and still be too little to compensate for jobs lost to AI.

— Diane Brady, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
The settlement requires Instacart to establish a fund of up to $4 million to compensate job applicants and people who were allegedly deterred from applying to Instacart between December 2023 and February 2026.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of compensate

Verb

Successful candidates will then be invited to spend a day at the bank’s offices where they are tested on banking regulation, their use of AI, and their ability to build calculations.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
The Finnish Government has granted Posiva Oy an operating license for the world’s first permanent underground repository for spent nuclear fuel.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of spend

Verb

Two of the targets yielded catches; one of those catches yielded Mayfield’s only touchdown.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2026
The conflict and resolution are also heard in how the solo verses yield the group chorus — individual voices on display, and then, collective power.

— Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of yield

Verb

Jennifer Shuford, who had been Texas’s health commissioner, was part of a team hired to restore confidence in the agency.

— Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
Spoelstra and May became even closer when the Heat hired his son, Jack May, as a video room intern a few years ago.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of hire

Noun

Opinion polls predict tight race Domestically, Vucic has pledged higher pensions and public sector salaries, investment in state healthcare and subsidies for young couples.

— Reuters, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026
The players and their union vow to keep it that way, and union chief Bruce Meyer said every proposal the owners make on every issue is contingent upon a salary cap.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of salary

Verb

Borrowers struggle to repay, lenders suffer losses, and a market crash can spiral into a financial crisis and a painful recession.

— Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 20 Oct. 2026
Oracle's 5-year credit default swaps Credit default swaps are contracts where buyers pay for protection in case the borrower can't repay its debt.

— Michelle Fox, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of repay

Browse Nearby Words

paws

pay

payable

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Style

“Pay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of pay

verb

noun

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Synonyms of pay

verb

noun

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Phrases Containing pay

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Cite this Entry

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