expiate
Pay for sins
To expiate is to make amends for wrongdoing or guilt, typically through some act of atonement or suffering.
The word carries a formal, often religious weight—sins are expiated through penance, crimes through punishment or restitution: He spent years trying to expiate his betrayal.
Unlike simply apologizing, expiation implies doing something to balance the moral scales.
Make reparation for wrongdoing
- amendModify or correct
- make amendsCompensate for wrongdoing
- redressCompensation for injury
- rectifyTo make something right
compensate · restitution · reparation · reconcile · apologize · apology · satisfy · repay
Guilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- self-reproachBlaming oneself for wrongdoing
- compunctionUneasiness from guilt
guilt-ridden · self-condemnation · regret · sorrow · culpability · blame · pangs · anguish
Admission of wrongdoing
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- flagellationBeating with a whip
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
- sackclothCoarse fabric for penance
pilgrimage · self-denial · self-discipline · shrive · hair shirt · prostration · vigil · asceticism
Cease to blame
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- absolveRelease from guilt
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
clemency · exonerate · vindicate · release · cleanse · purify · purge · wash away
Deliverance from harm
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- liberationRelease from constraint
rescue · rebirth · renewal · transformation · saved · redeemed · second chance · restoration
atone
Make reparation for wrongdoing
- amendModify or correct
- make amendsCompensate for wrongdoing
- redressCompensation for injury
rectify · compensate · restitution · reparation · reconcile · apologize · apology · satisfy · repay · restore
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- self-reproachBlaming oneself for wrongdoing
compunction · guilt-ridden · self-condemnation · regret · sorrow · culpability · blame · pangs · anguish · burden
confession
Admission of wrongdoing
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- flagellationBeating with a whip
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
sackcloth · pilgrimage · self-denial · self-discipline · shrive · hair shirt · prostration · vigil · asceticism · self-punishment
forgive
Cease to blame
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- absolveRelease from guilt
acquittal · clemency · exonerate · vindicate · release · cleanse · purify · purge · wash away · wipe clean
salvation
Deliverance from harm
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
liberation · rescue · rebirth · renewal · transformation · saved · redeemed · second chance · restoration · recover
- forgivenessforgiveness of sins, redemption, absolve, mercy, grace
- worship verbspray, bless, anoint, baptize, consecrate
- fixesfix, repair, mend, correction, correct