expiatory

1 9.9

Made to show someone is sorry and to make up for a wrong

adjective
/ɛkˈspɪəˌtɔri/

Formal

: expiatorio

But the deeper, more important story concerns the incestuous affair of Alejandra and her father, Fernando Vidal Olmos, ending in the expiatory suicide-murder performed by Alejandra.

Examples

After realizing his mistakes, he made an expiatory gesture by volunteering at the local shelter.
"The only correct response to this apostasy, he commented dryly, was "an expiatory bath."

Academic text (2008)
The community held a ceremony as an expiatory act to apologize for the harm caused in the past.
She wrote a heartfelt letter as an expiatory measure for the pain she had caused her friend.

Synonyms

reparative

vsexpiatory

2 6.9

Providing help or payment to make up for a wrong

focuses on moral atonement rather than providing compensation

penitential

vsexpiatory

1 9.9

Showing sorrow and regret for doing something wrong

focuses on performing an amending action rather than expressing regret

propitiatory

vsexpiatory

Formal

1 9.9

An action or gift to calm someone who is angry

is an action offered to make amends rather than mainly to gain favour

reparatory

vsexpiatory

1 7.8

Aims to give money or help to people who were harmed

is an act of moral reparation rather than only financial or physical repair

expiative

vsexpiatory

Formal

9.9

That removes guilt after someone does something wrong

is an offered action meant to make amends rather than an inborn power

absolvitory

vsexpiatory

Formal

9.9

Giving forgiveness to someone for a wrong or crime

is the act offered to make amends rather than the grant of forgiveness

How Atoning

propitiatory

Formal

1 9.9

expiatory

Formal

1 9.9

reparative

2 6.9

Surface Forms

expiatory positive

Morphology

expiatory = expiate (transparent) = expiate + ory

The adjective is a straightforward derivation from the verb 'expiate' with the adjectival suffix '-ory', so its meaning 'relating to atonement' is directly predictable from the base.

Etymology

Expiatory comes from the Latin verb expiate, built from ex- meaning 'out' and pius (as in English pious) meaning 'dutiful' or 'good'. So an expiatory act is done to 'take away' guilt and make things right.