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

Kansas and Missouri have both decreased their error rate in recent years but are still on track to owe the federal government millions to pay for SNAP. — Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026 Luana Ross, who is Bitterroot Salish and a co-director of the Native Voices program at the University of Washington, said cash rewards could boost interest but often aren't paid out. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026

Noun

Is there a 1% interest rate reduction for student loans with auto pay? — Amy Deyoung, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 Walmart had been slow to adopt tap-to-pay compared with rivals. — Kimberly Tutuska, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pay

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay

Verb

Both involve players compensated for playing football, and feature teams that generate millions in revenue and pursue players for their labor services.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 25 Aug. 2026
The Port Authority is clearly trying to compensate for the mazelike layout.

— Anne Kadet, Curbed, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of compensate

Verb

Lake Zurich and Antioch met twice last season, including in a second-round playoff game.

— Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
Big picture The league and the union are meeting regularly on various topics, but their disagreement on core economics — whether to move to a cap system — leaves little room for progress on the major issues.

— Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of meet

Verb

Robert spent the prior six years with Chicago, hitting 38 home runs and stealing 20 bases in 2023, his best season and lone All-Star appearance.

— Will Sammon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
While higher earners had been spending more using credit cards, the institute said the gap across income classes began narrowing in May of this year.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of spend

Verb

Sure, both signal callers struggled with bad reads, yet a few dropped balls and mental mistakes yielded a total of just 37 offensive plays.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
For the past quarter century, Hayes has enjoyed a solo career, one that has yielded five studio albums, most recently the 2022 release Homosexual.

— Lars Brandle, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of yield

Verb

Dismissing the general manager who hired Espada doesn’t bode well, but Crane made a clear distinction between the two men during the aftermath.

— Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Scott hired Luca Khouri, a Jamaican artist, to photograph the campaign at the end of March, which was styled by Marika-Ella Ames.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of hire

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

Definition of salary

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

Verb

The Sacramento City Teachers Association President Nikki Milevsky echoed Singh’s position, saying the trust’s funds do not have to be repaid.

— Chaewon Chung Updated August 27, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Russia reportedly sent drones to Iran this year, repaying Tehran’s favor after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

— Kareem Chehayeb, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of repay

Browse Nearby Words

paws

pay

payable

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“Pay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of pay

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noun

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Synonyms of pay

verb

noun

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Phrases Containing pay

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Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

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