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

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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 The Sisters have come a long way, but never strayed from their mission: to promulgate universal joy and expiate stigmatic guilt. Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2023 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 In the former category are Ani (Katy Sullivan), who lost her legs in a car accident, and her ex-husband Eddie (David Zayas), a good-natured, unemployed truck driver who insists on caring for Ani, possibly to expiate his guilt over cheating on her when they were married. Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Oct. 2022 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 Perhaps, but as Chief Justice John Roberts notes in his persuasive dissent, there’s no crisis that now compels the Court to expiate a long-ago mistake that Congress has the power to fix. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 21 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expiate
Verb
  • If its landfill revenue falls, the county may have to compensate.
    Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Díaz de la Portilla is asking to be compensated for his attorneys’ fees and costs.
    Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • However, those assuming Jod would be redeemed by the end were sorely mistaken.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Below, 15 members of Forbes Agency Council share expert insights into how a brand facing viral complaints can take an appropriate level of accountability, redeem its good name and regain consumer trust.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • However, the funds exchanged between the two brothers reflected a loan; James Biden repaid his brother after two major business deals, one with a U.S. company while the other came shortly after a deal Hunter Biden secured with a Chinese company.
    Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 20 Jan. 2025
  • The film would also repay a second viewing, because details sprinkled throughout take on their meaning only in hindsight.
    Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • This story has been corrected to show that Berkowitz works at Georgetown University, not George Washington University.
    CBS News, CBS News, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Keep an open mind when your partner, family members or friends point out differences in your parenting and be ready to correct it.
    Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025

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Thesaurus Entries Near expiate

Cite this Entry

“Expiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expiate. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.

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