expiate

verb

ˈek-spē-ˌāt How to pronounce expiate (audio)
Definition of expiatenext
as in to compensate
to make up for (an offense) Yom Kippur is the holy day on which Jews are expected to expiate sins committed during the past year

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 expiate 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 But now Epstein, 49, is wearing a different hat, and hoping to expiate his unintended sins against a sport that has been his lifelong passion. — David Axelrod, CNN, 1 Apr. 2023 Only the brilliant Richard Fleischer–Norman Wexler Mandingo in 1975 would expiate that consciousness. — Armond White, National Review, 27 Apr. 2022 In 17th-century Austria, wooden pillars were erected for the self-mortifying convenience of the flagellants who roamed Europe, whipping themselves to expiate whatever sins had brought on the Black Death. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 15 Mar. 2021 Ridding oneself of guilt is often easier than overcoming shame, in part because our society offers many ways to expiate guilt-inducing offenses, including apologizing, paying fines, and serving jail time. — Annette Kämmerer, Scientific American, 9 Aug. 2019 Anyone who’s familiar with the world of competitive cycling knows that, for some athletes, the sport is a means of escaping, or salving, or expiating, tremendous inner pain. — Bill Gifford, Outside Online, 24 July 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expiate
  1. compensate
  2. redeem
  3. repay
  4. correct
Verb
  • As litigation drags on, the plaintiff will necessarily require a higher settlement amount to compensate for the fees incurred so far and this will make the case more difficult to settle.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • To compensate, attackers have increasingly relied on infostealer malware and adversary-in-the–middle attacks.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of compensate
Verb
  • One of the industry’s few redeeming qualities is its theoretical job creation.
    — Adrianne Fantasia, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2026
  • If an airline member redeemed miles for an electronics retailer’s gift card and used it weeks later, the member might remember the retailer but forget that the airline supplied the value.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of redeem
Verb
  • That can make alternatives such as debt settlement appealing, particularly if financial hardship has made the original balance difficult to repay.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Tung Hsin had repaid 47 percent and planned to reach full reimbursement by December.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of repay
Verb
  • In July, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health also cited Lineage for rodent and pest-control violations, fining the company $500 per day until the violations were corrected.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Jesus’ teachings and healing works confirm that negative suggestions can be corrected, not by trying not to think about them, but by turning our attention to and replacing them with God’s thoughts.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of correct

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Cite this Entry

“Expiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expiate. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of expiate for Spanish Speakers

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