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View synonyms for compensate

compensate

[ kom-puhn-seyt ]

verb (used with object)

, com·pen·sat·ed, com·pen·sat·ing.
  1. to recompense for something:

    They gave him ten dollars to compensate him for his trouble.

    Synonyms: pay, reward, remunerate

  2. to counterbalance; offset; be equivalent to:

    He compensated his homely appearance with great personal charm.

    Synonyms: countervail, counterpoise

  3. Mechanics. to counterbalance (a force or the like); adjust or construct so as to offset or counterbalance variations or produce equilibrium.
  4. to change the gold content of (a monetary unit) to counterbalance price fluctuations and thereby stabilize its purchasing power.


verb (used without object)

, com·pen·sat·ed, com·pen·sat·ing.
  1. to provide or be an equivalent; make up; make amends (usually followed by for ):

    His occasional courtesies did not compensate for his general rudeness.

    Synonyms: atone

  2. Psychology. to develop or employ mechanisms of compensation.

compensate

/ kəmˈpɛnsətərɪ; -trɪ; ˈkɒmpɛnˌseɪt; ˈkɒmpɛnˌseɪtɪv; kəmˈpɛnsə-; ˈkɒmpɛnˌseɪtərɪ /

verb

  1. to make amends to (someone), esp for loss or injury
  2. tr to serve as compensation or damages for (injury, loss, etc)
  3. to offset or counterbalance the effects of (a force, weight, movement, etc) so as to nullify the effects of an undesirable influence and produce equilibrium
  4. intr to attempt to conceal or offset one's shortcomings by the exaggerated exhibition of qualities regarded as desirable
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • compensatory, adjective
  • ˈcompenˌsator, noun
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Other Words From

  • compen·sating·ly adverb
  • compen·sator noun
  • non·compen·sated adjective
  • non·compen·sating adjective
  • pre·compen·sate verb (used with object) precompensated precompensating
  • re·compen·sate verb (used with object) recompensated recompensating
  • sub·compen·sate verb (used with object) subcompensated subcompensating
  • un·compen·sated adjective
  • un·compen·sating adjective
  • well-compen·sated adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of compensate1

First recorded in 1640–50, compensate is from the Latin word compēnsātus (past participle of compēnsāre to counterbalance, originally, to weigh together). See com-, pensive, -ate 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of compensate1

C17: from Latin compēnsāre, from pensāre, from pendere to weigh
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Example Sentences

People may engage in some pro-social behaviour that — perhaps unconsciously — allows them to compensate for their use of a MyPillow pillow.

In 2017, it eliminated the requirement for exonerees to win a gubernatorial pardon in order to get compensated, so long as they received a writ of innocence from a state prosecutor.

The Terps outscored the Buckeyes 32-24 in the paint, which helped compensate for their poor shooting from deep.

“I attend to my duties adequately and I’m compensated the same as other chiefs,” he said.

The 22 percent hospitality charge feels right, not just because our server has taken very good care of us, but because the pandemic has revealed inequities in the way restaurant workers are compensated.

So filmmakers usually resort to a plot device to compensate for this absence.

This may turn out to be wrong; Republican victories in Iowa and/or Colorado could compensate for a loss here.

The money would have gone to compensate the victims, pay for future health screenings, and in some cases relocate households.

But is the performer taking her art form too seriously, trying to compensate for something else that may be lacking?

To her credit, following the ensuing criticism Sandberg reversed policy and announced they would compensate interns.

A great player can really sing on these with such a delightful effect as almost to compensate for the want of speech.

In a dress, no outlay upon the material will compensate for a badly fitting garment.

The way in which a watch is made to automatically compensate for temperature changes is interesting.

However luxurious the apartment of the Place Vendome might be, it could not compensate for the loss of these marvels.

Would the count surrender title to the damaged car to compensate for rail transportation?

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compensablecompensated grade