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Compensate vs Reciprocate - What's the difference?

compensate | reciprocate |

As verbs the difference between compensate and reciprocate

is that compensate is to pay or reward someone in exchange for work done or some other consideration while reciprocate is to mutually give and take something; to interchange.

compensate

English

Verb

(compensat)
  • To pay or reward someone in exchange for work done or some other consideration.
    • It is hard work, but they will compensate you well for it.
  • (ambitransitive) To make up for; to do something in place of something else; to correct, satisfy; to reach an agreement such that the scales are literally]] or ([[metaphor, metaphorically) balanced; to equalize or make even.
    • His loud voice cannot compensate for a lack of personality.
    To compensate me for his tree landing on my shed, my neighbor paved my driveway.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • The length of the night and the dews thereof do compensate the heat of the day.
  • * Prior
    • The pleasures of life do not compensate the miseries.
  • To adjust or adapt to a change, often a harm or deprivation.
    • I don't like driving that old car because it always steers a little to the left so I'm forever compensating for that when I drive it. Trust me, it gets annoying real fast.
    To compensate for his broken leg, Gary uses crutches.

    Derived terms

    * compensation * compensatory * recompense * recompensate

    Related terms

    * compensable * compensably

    Synonyms

    1. To pay * guerdon * reimburse to pay back 2. To make up for, correct, satisfy, or equalize, to balance the scales, to equalize or make even.
    * equate * offset * redeem * accord * reconcile * harmonize * atone * indemnify * requite * rectify * level * resolve * * amend * expiate * redress * remedy * remunerate * appease * restitute and restitution
    3. To adjust to a change.
    * acclimatize and acclimate * accommodate * accustom * adapt * accord * counterbalance * counteract * integrate * attune

    External links

    * * ----

    reciprocate

    English

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To mutually give and take something; to interchange.
  • To give something in response.
  • To move backwards and forwards, like a piston.
  • * Dryden
    • One brawny smith the puffing bellows plies, / And draws and blows reciprocating air.
  • To counter, retort or retaliate.