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Atone vs Redeem - What's the difference?

atone | redeem |

As verbs the difference between atone and redeem

is that atone is to make reparation, compensation, or amends, for an offence or a crime or a sin one has committed while redeem is to recover ownership of something by buying it back.

atone

English

Verb

(aton)
  • To make reparation, compensation, or amends, for an offence or a crime or a sin one has committed.
  • (proscribed) To clear (someone else) of wrongdoing, especially by standing as an equivalent.
  • Synonyms

    * (to make reparation) expiate, propitiate

    Derived terms

    () * atonable * atoneable * atonement * atoner

    redeem

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To recover ownership of something by buying it back.
  • To liberate by payment of a ransom.
  • To set free by force.
  • To save, rescue
  • To clear, release from debt or blame
  • To expiate, atone (for ...)
  • (finance) To convert (some bond or security) into cash
  • To save from a state of sin (and from its consequences).
  • To repair, restore
  • To reform, change (for the better)
  • To restore the reputation or honour of oneself or something.
  • (archaic) To reclaim
  • Synonyms

    * (recover ownership) buy back, repurchase

    Antonyms

    * abandon

    Derived terms

    * redeem oneself * redeemable * redeemably * redeemer * unredeemable * unredeemably * unredeemed