COMPENSATION Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

compensation

noun

ˌkäm-pən-ˈsā-shən

Definition of compensation

as in reparation

payment to another for a loss or injury a warehouse worker who received a large compensation for his crippling injury while on the job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in pay

something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services fair compensation for his work on the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in paying

the act of offering money in exchange for goods or services his generous compensation was greatly appreciated

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 compensation At the same time, the rise of name, image and likeness compensation has brought professional sports agencies into competition with scholarship-placement firms such as Keystone, which does not provide NIL services. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 27 Aug. 2026 Newsom’s proposal called for preventing compensation for people who were not present or harmed in a fire’s perimeter and also placing limits on others who feared for their safety. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026 On Blind, an anonymized but verified message board for tech industry professionals, numerous Microsoft insiders groused that their compensation doesn’t match their contributions to the company. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 26 Aug. 2026 The proposal calls for eliminating bonuses and other compensation for the CEOs of utilities that are found to have sparked wildfires and require utility regulators to consider only raising rates in line with inflation when weighing rate requests. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for compensation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for compensation

Noun

Germany in particular borrowed extensively to finance both domestic growth and its reparations payments.

— MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
In fact, the whole thing could be viewed as colonial reparations.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of reparation

Noun

Singletary took a pay cut to the minimum salary to stay this offseason, and then earned his spot on the roster.

— Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Raising military pay and expanding firepower were positive measures, but whether Tinubu maintains the political energy needed to fully implement structural changes beyond this election season remains to be seen, Barnett said.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of pay

Noun

In April, the SPLC was charged as an organization with bank fraud and money laundering offenses related to its paying of informants to infiltrate hate groups.

— Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
The affordability crisis extends to healthcare, housing, and access to good paying jobs.

— Elijah Manley, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026

Definition of paying

Noun

The Family Dollar employee suffered damages, including losses in compensation and benefits, medical expenses, and anxiety and emotional distress, according to the EEOC.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026
The suit seeks unspecified damages for claims including legal malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty and racketeering.

— Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of damages

Noun

That facility charges for certain types of meeting space, yet Mazariegos’ spending report initially showed no payments or in-kind donations for such costs, Rothstein said.

— Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
The agreement includes a payment of up to $18 billion, part of which is tied to conditional action by other social media giants.

— Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of payment

Noun

Singletary took a pay cut to the minimum salary to stay this offseason, and then earned his spot on the roster.

— Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
The salary for a probationary officer — who usually graduates from the police academy after half a year — starts at $63,000 but jumps to $111,000, plus benefits after four and a half years of service, per the department’s 2026 pay schedule.

— Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026