compensate

verb

To pay or reward someone in exchange for work done or some other consideration.

(ambitransitive) To make up for; to do something in place of something else; to correct, satisfy; to reach an agreement such that the scales are literally or (metaphorically) balanced; to equalize or make even.

To adjust or adapt to a change, often a harm or deprivation.

To do (something good) after (something bad) happens.

Roots

pendopens- · Latin · hang, weigh

Synonyms for compensate

remuneratev recompensen indemnifyv payv redressv reimbursev recoupv counterbalancev offsetv repayv atonev requitev refundn coverv countervailv

Synonyms & related words for compensate

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of compensate — including remunerate, recompense, indemnify, pay, redress, reimburse. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to compensate

Explore words related to compensate — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include overcompensate, compensatory, compensations, compensable, compensator, overcompensation, remunerator, indemnification. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for compensate

Common synonyms for compensate include remunerate, recompense, indemnify, pay, redress, reimburse, recoup, counterbalance — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does compensate come from?

The word compensate breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root pens-, from Latin pendo (“hang, weigh”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.