1
as in compensation
payment to another for a loss or injury
the jury awarded an additional $5,000 in recompense for physical pain and suffering
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2
as in payment
something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services
the volunteer expects nothing more than sincere thanks as recompense for his efforts
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1
as in to compensate
to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received
the cash-strapped museum can recompense lecturers with only token honorariums
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to reimburse
to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury
the government has yet to adequately recompense the property owners for the land taken for the new highway
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4
as in to repay
to make a return for
the wealthy gentleman told the poor little girl she could recompense his generosity simply by enjoying her new toys
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of recompense
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 3 July 2025
Bates is pained to see teenagers (representing 12% of the city population), brazenly and without recompense, running around, destroying the lives of others, and also for those whose lives were cut short in middle age by said juveniles.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 6 June 2025
Mary Norris, The New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2023
European countries like Germany and the UK have shored up money for their violent role in suppressing Namibian and Kenyan protests, but the Netherlands is the first to publicly acknowledge and recompense for slavery.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 23 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for recompense
Noun
In recompense, Pogacar refused to attack Vingegaard later on the descent, appearing to defy his UAE Team Emirates team car.
—Verb
Thurber complained to him about being asked to recompense The New Yorker for a sixty-dollar overpayment; writers got paid by the word (still do), and the accounting department had calculated that the final word count on a certain Thurber story was less than the original word count.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for recompense
Noun
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Court rulings have favored athletes of late, winning them not just millions in compensation but the ability to play immediately after transferring rather than have to sit out a year as once was the case.—
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Reyes defended the compensation, saying it was negotiated in good faith.—
Noun
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According to the filing, Pepsi allegedly reinforced that gap by offering Walmart promotional payments, allowances and data-sharing services that were not extended to other retailers.—
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The reduced monthly payments can improve affordability for a period until home prices adjust in response to changes in the rates.—
Verb
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However, that also means Boise State is often being compensated for traveling to those games.—
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But even if Parker were convicted of criminal charges directly tied to the shooting, Preis said insurance managers might feel pressure to compensate Zwerner.—
Verb
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This means any unpaid amount, whether utilities or other charges, can make an account delinquent because it must be paid at the same time as rent.—
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Planting a vineyard in the Bay Area can cost between $30,000 and $80,000 per acre, but some are choosing to just leave them sit rather than pay to maintain them.—
Verb
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LeBlanc said the affected faculty members taught fewer classes than required by their contracts, and thus must reimburse the college.—
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However, if the airline attributes the interruption to a common carrier issue, your policy may reimburse you for non-refundable expenses, like hotel rooms or tours.—
Verb
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As a result of that inaction, California businesses will continue facing automatic payroll tax hikes to repay that debt.—
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College completion plays a major role in whether borrowers are able to repay their loans.—
Noun
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Scaffolding, ultimately, is less like reparations and more like universal basic income.—
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The survey focuses on whether educators are properly teaching students about reparations precedents.—
Noun
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In 2025, 23 weather and climate events exceeded $1 billion in damages, costing a total of around $115 billion, according to an analysis released Thursday by the nonprofit organization Climate Central.—
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The United States experienced nearly two dozen billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in 2025, causing at least 276 fatalities and costing a total of $115 billion in damages.—
Cite this Entry
“Recompense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recompense. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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