Thesaurus results for INDEMNIFY

Q: How is the word 'indemnify' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of indemnify are compensate , pay , recompense , reimburse , remunerate , repay , and satisfy . While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare. // indemnified the families of the dead miners

Q: When is it sensible to use 'compensate' instead of 'indemnify'?

In some situations, the words compensate and indemnify are roughly equivalent. However, compensate implies a making up for services rendered. // an attorney well compensated for her services

Q: In what contexts can 'pay' take the place of 'indemnify'?

While the synonyms pay and indemnify are close in meaning, pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred. // paid their bills

Q: When can 'recompense' be used instead of 'indemnify'?

While in some cases nearly identical to indemnify , recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward. // passengers were recompensed for the delay

Q: When might 'reimburse' be a better fit than 'indemnify'?

The synonyms reimburse and indemnify are sometimes interchangeable, but reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit. // reimbursed employees for expenses

Q: When is 'remunerate' a more appropriate choice than 'indemnify'?

The words remunerate and indemnify are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 could 'repay' be used to replace 'indemnify'?

Although the words repay and indemnify have much in common, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount. // repay a favor with a favor

Q: When would 'satisfy' be a good substitute for 'indemnify'?

The words satisfy and indemnify can be used in similar contexts, but satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law. // all creditors will be satisfied in full

indemnify

verb

in-ˈdem-nə-ˌfī

Definition of indemnify

as in to compensate

to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury the company generously indemnifies workers who are injured on the job

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word indemnify distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of indemnify are compensate, pay, recompense, reimburse, remunerate, repay, and satisfy. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

When is it sensible to use compensate instead of indemnify?

In some situations, the words compensate and indemnify are roughly equivalent. However, compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

In what contexts can pay take the place of indemnify?

While the synonyms pay and indemnify are close in meaning, pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

When can recompense be used instead of indemnify?

While in some cases nearly identical to indemnify, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

When might reimburse be a better fit than indemnify?

The synonyms reimburse and indemnify are sometimes interchangeable, but reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

When is remunerate a more appropriate choice than indemnify?

The words remunerate and indemnify are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 could repay be used to replace indemnify?

Although the words repay and indemnify have much in common, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

When would satisfy be a good substitute for indemnify?

The words satisfy and indemnify can be used in similar contexts, but 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 indemnify Those motivations lie in Skydance purchasing National Amusements in addition to acquiring Paramount and agreeing to indemnify Redstone from liability arising from the merger. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 5 June 2026 The judgement, if accepted, would declare that Guyger - as a Dallas city employee - was indemnified for liability under the city's employee liability plan and thus force the city to compensate them. — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026 Installers would be required to indemnify or reimburse the HOA or its members for loss or damage caused by the installation, maintenance or use of the system. — Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026 The letter alleges that under the terms of this agreement, USIP will be responsible for the building’s upkeep and security costs, and the State Department will be indemnified against responsibility for damage to USIP property. — Vittoria Elliott, Wired News, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for indemnify

Recent Examples of Synonyms for indemnify

Verb

Preferably, any recruit would also offer creativity from deep, given Newcastle need to try to compensate for the loss of creativity and goal-scoring threat that Guimaraes provided in midfield.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
That makes long-duration Treasuries particularly vulnerable if investors continue to demand higher returns to compensate for fiscal and inflation risks.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of compensate

Verb

The funding would reimburse services provided to Oakland County residents, including cancer screenings, annual wellness exams, STI testing and treatment, contraception, and reproductive health counseling.

— Alysia Burgio, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
That rule was largely started to reimburse students that went to for-profit colleges, it's now being applied to nonprofit colleges.

— Dana Taylor, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of reimburse

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indemnify

indemnifying

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“Indemnify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indemnify. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of indemnify

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