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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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 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 your core isn’t doing its job, other muscles have to try and compensate.
    Danielle Zickl, SELF, 24 Apr. 2025
  • But Stafford, who’s entering the 17th season of a career which will land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, wanted to be compensated at the market rate.
    Jay Paris, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • As part of Thursday’s update, Coinbase users will also be able to redeem their PYUSD for dollars directly on the Coinbase platform, mirroring a USDC capability.
    Tanaya Macheel, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Andaz Miami Beach is one of the best ways to redeem Hyatt points in the Sunshine State.
    Chris Dong, AFAR Media, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Only six games remain, and if the players continue to repay the faith Igor Tudor is putting in them, the Coach should succeed in his mission to secure Champions League football for Juventus next season.
    Adam Digby, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Consumers and businesses could struggle to repay their loans if the import levies reignite inflation and dampen economic growth.
    Niket Nishant and Nupur Anand, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • If the person does not correct the behavior, Whitmore suggested alerting a flight attendant.
    Ashley J. DiMella Fox News, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The images, which claim to show images of the iPhone 17 Pro in four different cases were labelled iPhone 16 Pro in the first post, but later corrected.
    David Phelan, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Expiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expiate. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

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