1
as in to alleviate
to put a complete end to (a physical need or desire) the players satisfied their hunger after the game with a big pasta dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
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5
as in to compensate
to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury the owners of the restaurant were generously satisfied for any business lost during the filming

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word satisfy distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of satisfy are compensate, indemnify, pay, recompense, reimburse, remunerate, and repay. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

all creditors will be satisfied in full

When would compensate be a good substitute for satisfy?

The words compensate and satisfy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

When could indemnify be used to replace satisfy?

The synonyms indemnify and satisfy are sometimes interchangeable, but indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

When is it sensible to use pay instead of satisfy?

Although the words pay and satisfy have much in common, pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

Where would recompense be a reasonable alternative to satisfy?

While in some cases nearly identical to satisfy, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

When is reimburse a more appropriate choice than satisfy?

While the synonyms reimburse and satisfy are close in meaning, reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

When can remunerate be used instead of satisfy?

The words remunerate and satisfy can be used in similar contexts, but remunerate clearly suggests paying for services rendered and may extend to payment that is generous or not contracted for.

promised to remunerate the searchers handsomely

When might repay be a better fit than satisfy?

The meanings of repay and satisfy largely overlap; however, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

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 satisfy Don’t take my word for it; just head out Sunday to downtown San Jose for the Post Street Record Faire, which will bring together more than a dozen vendors who will have some 10,000 records for sale, along with CDs, DVDs and cassette tapes to satisfy all your physical media needs. Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025 Across the country—and especially in the South—plans are well in the works for Thanksgiving meals that will both satisfy and delight guests. Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025 Building momentum and snowballing your income is always satisfying. Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025 Nothing her friends do seems to be enough to satisfy her. Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for satisfy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for satisfy
Verb
  • In deeply unequal ways, the new era of networked industrialization and electrification began to alleviate the conditions of scarcity that had rendered many communities so vulnerable to the climatic disruptions of the LIA.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Many analysts had speculated Milei would, once the election was out of the way, tilt toward a floating currency — alleviating pressure on the nation’s trade position.
    Daniel Flatley, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • If that's not enough to convince you, consider that the carry-on has more than 19,700 five-star ratings on Amazon.
    Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Verna tries to earn her trust, convinced Mitsuki proves communion with the aliens is possible.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Each formation has its own strengths and weaknesses, and can vary significantly depending on the roles a manager is asking their players to fulfil.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • King Charles and Queen Camilla are fulfilling a commitment that was originally scheduled during Charles' visit to Rome in April.
    Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In short, queso brings the heat and texture, while cheese dip focuses on velvety, crowd-pleasing comfort.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025
  • That’s why my NYT Cooking colleague Margaux Laskey has created a collection of kid-friendly recipes to please whole families — children and adults, eating the same meal in harmony.
    The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Some figures within the music industry have already spoken out about how AI giants are failing to compensate creators properly, with music legend Paul McCartney urging governments to legislate to ensure human musicians get their due.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Officials aim to compensate for California's narrowing refining footprint.
    Sasha Hupka, AZCentral.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But in the meantime, the K-pop superstar boy band’s diehards can slake their thirst by watching member V smoke the ceremonial first pitch at a Los Angeles Dodgers game on Monday (Aug. 25).
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2025
  • Moreover, there is no reason to assume that such concessions would slake Chinese and Russian ambitions: consider, for example, what Beijing’s massive investments in Latin America and attempts to corrupt the Canadian political system suggest about Chinese intentions.
    KORI SCHAKE, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • Lawmakers in the two states still may be persuaded, and the White House push, which has included an Oval Office meeting for Indiana lawmakers and two trips to Indianapolis by Vice President JD Vance, is expected to continue.
    Isabella Volmert, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
  • According to this speculation, WWE might be attempting to use the leverage of a potential one-year non-compete clause as a way to persuade Andrade to return to the company.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • With just 24 hours before a party, 31-year-old Maïlys Lecaillier from Pas-de-Calais transformed everyday items into a hilariously lifelike ostrich costume that’s now delighting TikTok.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The adorable video has delighted internet users, and it’s gone viral with over 375,500 views and more than 72,000 likes at the time of writing.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Satisfy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/satisfy. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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