satisfy

verb

ˈsa-təs-ˌfī How to pronounce satisfy (audio)
Definition of satisfynext
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
as in to convince
to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests it took me a while to satisfy my attorney that I had good grounds for a lawsuit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fulfill
to do what is required by the terms of the contractor had clearly failed to satisfy the terms of the agreement

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to please
to give satisfaction to a hot dinner and a relaxing massage never fails to satisfy her after a long week at work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 The rich have wandering eyes and intimate desires—and their wallets can satisfy only so much. —Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025 Plus, an in-demand restaurant at capacity might not feel particularly motivated to go above and beyond to satisfy a diner who feels slighted by their subpar table. —Maggie Hennessy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025 That explanation has failed to satisfy Democrats who say that plans for imminent military strikes are regularly classified. —David Klepper, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2025 One of the requirements to satisfy the banks into loaning Arsenal the money was a commitment for Wenger to stay for five years. —Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for satisfy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for satisfy
  1. alleviate
  2. convince
  3. fulfill
  4. please
  5. compensate
  6. slake
  7. persuade
  8. delight
Verb
  • But, in an effort to alleviate some of the insult to injury this task requires, reach for your pile of leftover cardboard instead.
    — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2025
  • If your solution doesn’t alleviate their pain, you'll get ignored.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of alleviate
Verb
  • Scammers convince you to take cash to a bitcoin ATM Her story highlights one huge red flag that consumers must watch out for these days — how scammers are convincing you to take cash to a crypto ATM at the local party store, gas station or grocery.
    — Susan Tompor, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Behind the Southern delegates’ suspicion was a kind of post-October 7th trauma: John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, in 1859, had convinced the South that the Black population was poised to rise up in bloody rebellion if given the chance.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
Definition of convince
Verb
  • However, after making season one, Gilroy and Luna both realized that their initial aim was too ambitious and likely required at least a decade of their lives to fulfill.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The tech executive hired several young engineers aged 19-24 to fulfill his directives at DOGE, which centered on eliminating positions Musk deemed to be unnecessary.
    — Krystal Nurse, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of fulfill
Verb
  • Both candidates will be forced to emphasize their conservative credentials in a bid to please Republican primary voters, which could provide an opening for their eventual Democratic challenger.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Chef Garofalo’s menu is clearly composed to please all of them, full of classic dishes like French onion soup and salade Niçoise along with American favorites like lobster rolls as well as steak au poivre and the Pierre burger.
    — John Mariani, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of please
Verb
  • We don’t get compensated until something goes into production.
    — Lauren Coates, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Creators who are participating in a pilot with Google are being directly compensated, but not nearly enough to offset declines in their advertising revenue, according to Marc McCollum, Raptive’s chief innovation officer.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of compensate
Verb
  • While a handful of commercial pieces have been released in recent seasons to slake the thirst of fans exclusively on the brand’s website, fall 2025 marks the formal return of a rtw offer.
    — Lily Templeton, WWD, 6 Mar. 2025
  • This growing thirst is slaked by an ever-expanding array of sophisticated cocktails, available year-round at countless contemporary bars and restaurants.
    — Brad Japhe, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
Definition of slake
Verb
  • Another factor that might hamper Chelsea’s attempts to persuade Rak-Sakyi to stay is what has happened to his brother, Jesurun.
    — Simon Johnson, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The administration is expected to return to the Supreme Court quickly in an effort to persuade the justices to lift their temporary order.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of persuade
Verb
  • The video has delighted internet users, leading to more than 621,300 views and 48,500 likes on TikTok at the time of writing.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Founded in 1970 by Erwin Little and his wife, Diane, the family-run business has delighted generations with its handcrafted, high-quality chocolates.
    — Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of delight

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satisfies
satisfy
satisfying
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Cite this Entry

“Satisfy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/satisfy. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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