redeem

verb

ri-ˈdēm How to pronounce redeem (audio)
Definition of redeemnext
1
as in to fulfill
to do what is required by the terms of the Little League coach redeemed his promise to take the players out for ice cream if they improved their fielding over the season

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to save
to free from captivity or punishment by paying a price the government has consistently refused to redeem hostages captured by terrorists

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to forgive
to free from the penalties or consequences of sin the belief that sinners are redeemed by their faith in God

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to rehabilitate
to make better in behavior or character the unfaithful husband made a determined effort to redeem himself in the eyes of his wife and children

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to compensate
to make up for (an offense) quickly redeemed the offending remark with a sincere and unconditional apology

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb redeem contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of redeem are deliver, ransom, reclaim, rescue, and save. While all these words mean "to set free from confinement or danger," redeem implies releasing from bondage or penalties by giving what is demanded or necessary.

job training designed to redeem school dropouts from chronic unemployment

When is deliver a more appropriate choice than redeem?

The words deliver and redeem can be used in similar contexts, but deliver implies release usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering.

delivered his people from bondage

When can ransom be used instead of redeem?

Although the words ransom and redeem have much in common, ransom specifically applies to buying out of captivity.

tried to ransom the kidnap victim

When might reclaim be a better fit than redeem?

The synonyms reclaim and redeem are sometimes interchangeable, but reclaim suggests a bringing back to a former state or condition of someone or something abandoned or debased.

reclaimed long-abandoned farms

When would rescue be a good substitute for redeem?

While in some cases nearly identical to redeem, rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action.

rescued the crew of a sinking ship

In what contexts can save take the place of redeem?

The words save and redeem are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, save may replace any of the foregoing terms; it may further imply a preserving or maintaining for usefulness or continued existence.

an operation that saved my life

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 redeem Benning redeemed himself minutes later, threading a blue-line blast through traffic on a late-period power play to tie the game at 2-2, reawakening the Charlotte crowd and shifting momentum back to the home team. —Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 17 May 2025 Chargers Jim Harbaugh taking a new approach to evaluating Chargers’ rookie talent May 10, 2025 Week 17, HOUSTON, TBD: Herbert can redeem himself against the defense that grabbed four interceptions in the Chargers’ 2024 playoff flop. —Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025 The Tigers likely would not be here without Báez, rejuvenated and redeemed. —Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 14 May 2025 Guests can earn points to redeem for complimentary nights and enjoy perks such as free Wi-Fi, late check-out, and more. —David Shortell, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for redeem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for redeem
  1. fulfill
  2. save
  3. rehabilitate
  4. compensate
  5. ransom
  6. reclaim
  7. repay
  8. satisfy
Verb
  • These are the building blocks that will help retailers fulfill the promise of their RMNs—not just as a media platform, but as a growth engine.
    — Lindsey Mazza, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • To fulfill President Donald Trump's plan to build America into a manufacturing powerhouse, permitting reform needs to go hand-in-hand with the administration's industrial strategy, which also includes tariffs on steel, tax cuts, and deregulation.
    — Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Definition of fulfill
Verb
  • Reforming laws like these would save large quantities of water.
    — Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Both teams had their first two penalties saved, before Steaua eventually got themselves together to score two… which was enough because Barca missed all four of theirs.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 28 May 2025
Definition of save
Verb
  • The program has rescued and rehabilitated 24 seals in 2025 alone, according to the aquarium.
    — Staff report, Hartford Courant, 22 May 2025
  • Nor were they educated or important enough to be rehabilitated into the West German government — like the former Nazis who, by 1957, made up some 76 percent of the senior officials in the Justice Ministry of the Federal Republic.
    — Henry Leutwyler Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Definition of rehabilitate
Verb
  • In 2020, a judge ruled that shareholders had been fairly compensated.
    — Jemima McEvoy, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • If a borrower, in this case, the U.S. government defaults on its debt, the seller must compensate the buyer.
    — Lee Ying Shan,Anniek Bao, CNBC, 28 May 2025
Definition of compensate
Verb
  • This could suggest that while attackers are targeting more victims, fewer are giving in to ransom demands.
    — Sam Sabin, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025
  • While Mikhail managed to escape by climbing out a window and taking refuge in a nearby nunnery, the men took his son hostage, and Mikhail was not able to ransom him until several days later.
    — Youmna Melhem Chamieh, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
Definition of ransom
Verb
  • Ultimately, reclaiming the human element in the job market is an investment in a more ethical, effective and sustainable future for all.
    — Sherry Martin, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
  • If a lot goes unused for seventy-five years, the cemetery can petition to reclaim it.
    — Paige Williams, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
Definition of reclaim
Verb
  • Men like him, who risked their lives for a country a world away, were repaid with doors slammed in their faces.
    — Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 31 May 2025
  • Under the deal, New Line and Horizon Series were each required to repay a portion of the financing.
    — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025
Definition of repay
Verb
  • The service offers a number of filters for other dietary requirements, and satisfying taste and texture—not always a guarantee on ready-to-eat meals.
    — Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 28 May 2025
  • Longer than a truck with a trailer (reaching up to almost 79 feet long) and weighting almost twice as much, Megalodon, ruled the oceans between 20–3 million years ago, frequently on the hunt for prey to satisfy its astonishing 100,000 kilocalories-per-day nutritional demand.
    — Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
Definition of satisfy

Browse Nearby Words

redecorating
redeem
redeemable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Redeem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/redeem. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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