make up for

VERB

amend

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alter enhance lift modify rectify revise

STRONG

ameliorate better change elevate fix help mend raise reform remedy repair right square

WEAK

pay one's dues

Antonyms

STRONGEST

lower worsen

STRONG

break decrease depress destroy drop harm hurt ignore injure lessen neglect remain ruin stay stop upset

WEAK

blemish corrupt debase impair mar reduce subtract

VERB

apologize

Synonyms

STRONGEST

atone confess retract withdraw

STRONG

crawl purge square

WEAK

admit guilt ask forgiveness ask pardon beg pardon bow to clear oneself cop a plea cop out excuse oneself get down on knees give satisfaction make amends make reparations make up with offer compensation offer excuse say one is sorry

Antonyms

WEAK

defy

VERB

atone

Synonyms

STRONGEST

apologize redeem

STRONG

absolve answer appease balance correct counterbalance expiate offset outweigh pay propitiate recompense reconcile redress repair square

WEAK

do penance make amends make redress make reparation pay one's dues set off take one's medicine

Antonyms

STRONG

disagree spoil

VERB

balance

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adjust harmonize offset readjust stabilize weigh

STRONG

accord attune cancel collate compensate correspond counteract counterbalance equalize equate even level match neutralize nullify oppose parallel poise redeem set square steady tie

WEAK

come out come out even pair off

Antonyms

STRONG

aid approve assist differ disagree forfeit help imbalance lose support

WEAK

disproportion overbalance unbalance

VERB

cancel

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abort annul repeal rescind revoke rule out

STRONG

abrogate counteract counterbalance countercheck countermand counterpoise discard discharge frustrate ignore invalidate negate neutralize nullify offset overthrow recall recant redeem redress refute repudiate retract suppress vacate void

WEAK

balance out call off compensate for declare invalid put an end to render inert render null and void set aside

Antonyms

STRONGEST

approve keep validate

STRONG

aid allow assist emphasize encourage help permit ratify sanction support

WEAK

arrange establish imbalance tip uphold

VERB

correct

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alter amend cure improve mend rectify redress regulate remediate remedy repair review revise straighten out upgrade

STRONG

ameliorate better change debug doctor edit emend help launder polish reclaim reconstruct reform remodel reorganize retouch right scrub

WEAK

clean up clean up act do over fiddle with fix up get with it go over make over make right pay dues pick up put in order set right set straight shape up touch up turn around

Antonyms

STRONGEST

break damage depress destroy harm hurt injure maintain remain ruin weaken worsen

WEAK

be permissive blow blunder coddle goof indulge mistake pamper pet spoil

VERB

counterbalance

Synonyms

STRONGEST

counteract outweigh rectify

STRONG

amend balance cancel compensate correct counterpoise countervail equalize redeem

WEAK

atone for set off

Antonyms

STRONG

disproportion forfeit imbalance lose

VERB

countervail

Synonyms

STRONG

balance counteract counterbalance counterpoise invalidate neutralize nullify undo

WEAK

compensate for

Antonyms

STRONG

approve permit validate

VERB

cover

Synonyms

STRONGEST

offset

STRONG

balance counterbalance insure relieve substitute

WEAK

double for make good stand in (for) take over take the rap for

Antonyms

WEAK

abandon disregard forget ignore leave alone

VERB

offset

Synonyms

STRONGEST

balance cancel out counteract equal negate neutralize outweigh

STRONG

account charge counterpoise counterpose countervail equalize equipoise recompense redeem requite

WEAK

allow for atone for be equivalent make amends set off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

approve disproportion

VERB

outweigh

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cancel out counterbalance eclipse exceed offset overcome overshadow prevail surpass

STRONG

balance compensate counterpoise countervail excel outbalance outrival outrun predominate preponderate

WEAK

atone for set off take precedence tip the scales

Antonyms

STRONGEST

fail fall behind lose surrender

VERB

pay

Synonyms

STRONGEST

pay back repay

STRONG

punish reciprocate recompense requite retaliate square

WEAK

avenge oneself get even pay one's dues settle a score square things

Antonyms

STRONG

refuse

WEAK

earn lose

VERB

plead

Synonyms

STRONGEST

appeal ask petition pray solicit

STRONG

beseech crave crawl entreat implore importune supplicate

WEAK

cop a plea entreaty square things

Antonyms

STRONGEST

refuse

STRONG

answer

WEAK

decide punish reply sentence

VERB

reciprocate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

repay retaliate

STRONG

barter correspond interchange match recompense render reply requite respond retort return share square swap swing trade vacillate

WEAK

be equivalent feel in return give-and-take pay one's dues return the compliment scratch one's back serve out tit for tat

Antonyms

STRONG

ask disagree keep question request take

WEAK

deny refuse

VERB

recompense

Synonyms

STRONG

atone balance comp compensate counterbalance counterpoise countervail equalize expiate fix grease indemnify offset overcompensate pay propitiate reciprocate recoup recover redress reimburse remunerate repay requite retaliate retrieve return reward satisfy square

WEAK

ante up atone for cough up do business give satisfaction make amends make good pay for put out spring for sweeten the pot swing for take care of

Antonyms

STRONG

deprive disproportion dissatisfy lose penalize refuse seize take worsen

VERB

rectify

Synonyms

STRONGEST

amend fix improve redress remedy straighten out

STRONG

adjust debug doctor emend launder mend reform remediate repair revise right scrub square

WEAK

clean up clean up act dial back fix up go over make good pay one's dues pick up put right recalibrate shape up straighten up turn things around

Antonyms

STRONGEST

corrupt harm hurt injure worsen

STRONG

break destroy ruin upset

WEAK

damage

VERB

redeem

Synonyms

STRONGEST

compensate offset rehabilitate restore satisfy

STRONG

absolve acquit balance counterbalance counterpoise countervail defray discharge fulfill keep meet outweigh perform redress reinstate save

WEAK

abide by adhere to carry out hold to keep the faith make amends make good set off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

damage destroy hurt

STRONG

blame condemn convict fail hold let go miss neglect sentence

WEAK

abandon disregard forfeit ignore lose

VERB

redress

Synonyms

STRONGEST

amend correct counteract even out mend neutralize regulate remedy restore vindicate

STRONG

adjust annul balance cancel compensate countercheck ease frustrate negate negative recompense reform relieve repair revise square

WEAK

dial back make amends make reparation make restitution pay for pay one's dues put right recalibrate turn around turn over new leaf turn things around

Antonyms

STRONGEST

break destroy harm hurt injure worsen

STRONG

allow approve damage permit upset

VERB

refund

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adjust compensate pay back recoup redeem reimburse relinquish remit repay

STRONG

balance indemnify recompense redress remunerate restore reward settle

WEAK

give back honor a claim make amends make good make repayment

Antonyms

STRONGEST

deprive forfeit hold keep lose penalize take

VERB

reimburse

Synonyms

STRONGEST

compensate indemnify offset pay refund repay restore

STRONG

balance recompense recover remunerate requite return square

WEAK

make reparations square up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

damage deprive lose penalize

STRONG

take

VERB

remedy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alleviate ameliorate amend assuage correct mitigate rectify redress relieve restore solve straighten out

STRONG

aid attend change control debug doctor ease heal help launder palliate reform remediate renew repair revise right scrub soothe square treat upgrade

WEAK

clean up clean up one's act fiddle with fix up go over pick up put right recalibrate set right set to rights shape up square up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aggravate damage harm hurt increase injure intensify upset worsen

STRONG

block break hinder ignore neglect obstruct remain stay stop

WEAK

get sick

VERB

repair

Synonyms

STRONGEST

compensate for correct heal improve mend overhaul patch rebuild recover rectify refurbish remedy renovate retrieve revamp revive

STRONG

darn debug doctor emend recondition redress reform refresh rejuvenate remediate renew retread right settle sew square

WEAK

do up fiddle with give a face-lift make good patch up put back together put in order put right touch up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

break damage decline destroy harm hurt injure ruin weaken worsen

STRONG

kill upset

WEAK

maintain remain spoil stay wreck

VERB

repay

Synonyms

STRONGEST

compensate offset pay back refund reimburse restore reward

STRONG

accord award balance indemnify rebate recompense remunerate requite return square

WEAK

make amends make restitution pay dues settle up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

damage penalize

STRONG

disagree refuse take withhold

WEAK

deprive extort leave alone seize steal

VERB

restitute

Synonyms

STRONG

adjust balance compensate indemnify recompense recoup redeem redress reimburse relinquish remit remunerate repay restore reward settle

WEAK

give back honor a claim make amends make good make repayment pay back

Antonyms

STRONG

confuse damage deprive forfeit hold keep lose penalize seize take upset worsen

VERB

right

Synonyms

STRONG

adjust amend balance debug doctor emend launder mend overhaul patch recompense recondition reconstruct rectify redress repair restore reward scrub settle square straighten vindicate

WEAK

clean up compensate for dial back do justice fiddle with fix up go straight pick up put in place put right recalibrate set straight set upright shape up sort out straighten out turn around

Antonyms

STRONG

break confuse damage destroy harm hurt injure move punish ruin upset worsen

WEAK

wrong

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

make up for

Once he enters the modern world to search for their missing parents, she tries to make up for lost time.

From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026

Coast Guard ships could help make up for U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

“They’ve probably lost a little bit off the top, but their experience and their mind make up for that,” said Scott Trappe, a professor of human bioenergetics at Ball State.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

Signed-in accounts make up for the vast majority of iPlayer streaming, but anyone watching on live TV will not be included.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

The Germans no longer had the manpower to make up for their losses, while more and more Allied divisions were moving up to the frontlines.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

make up for

Example Sentences

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