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Synonyms

make amends

Idioms  
  1. Compensate someone for a grievance or injury, as in They must make amends for the harm they've caused you. This expression was first recorded in 1330.


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:

But one aspect of a fair justice system is for wrongdoers to face proportionate consequences—not to be shunned forever, but to be expected to own up, make amends, and, sometimes, pay a penalty.

From Slate Jul. 7, 2026

He says that as a Jamaican directly descended from enslaved people, and a Christian, he finds some of the opposition to the Church's attempts to make amends for its financial entanglement with slavery deeply disturbing.

From BBC Jun. 18, 2026

This experience taught me the importance of keeping calm in tense situations, choosing restraint over reaction, and allowing space for others to reflect and make amends.

From The Wall Street Journal May 7, 2026

Now she’s trying to make amends, including paying more than $6.6 million in restitution and forfeiture.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 1, 2026

He was actually trying to make amends for his unfair characterization of Adams in the Priestley letter as one of the “ancients.”

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

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