Which verb means to atone or make amends for guilt or wrongdoing?

• A. Expiate
• B. Redress
• C. Compensate
• D. Forgive

Answer: (A)

Expiate is the verb that directly expresses atonement for guilt or wrongdoing. It carries the idea of making amends or seeking purification for a culpable act, often with a moral or religious nuance—someone expiates their sins or offenses by taking corrective or penitential actions. Redress means to set something right or remedy a wrong, but it’s more about fixing an injustice or harm in a practical or legal sense rather than the personal act of atoning. Compensate focuses on restitution, usually in terms of payment or equivalent, rather than addressing guilt or moral fault. Forgive means to pardon or release from blame, which is about letting go of resentment, not necessarily performing acts to repair the wrongdoing. Therefore, the term that best captures the idea of atoning for guilt is expiate.