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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:

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

Though exports surged 27% in June, it couldn’t make up for a 5.7% decline in fixed-asset investment in the first half of the year and stagnant retail sales growth.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 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

But, according to Bloomberg, external, its executives said the firm has rehired more than 300 "veteran" quality inspectors in recent years to make up for the pitfalls of automated systems.

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

I try to make up for it by focusing on Rae’s explanation.

From "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" by Mary E. Pearson

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