Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Compensating for a fault or defect: Having a positive quality that makes up for or counterbalances negative aspects.
   • Bringing about salvation or redemption: Relating to or causing the act of being saved from sin or error.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The film's redeeming quality was its beautiful cinematography.
  • His honesty was the one redeeming feature in an otherwise flawed character.
  • They believed in the redeeming power of forgiveness.

Advanced Usage

• "a redeeming feature/quality/value": A single positive aspect that makes something or someone acceptable despite other flaws.
  • The hotel was noisy and expensive, but its central location was a redeeming feature.
• Used to describe an element that prevents total failure or condemnation.
  • The defendant showed no redeeming characteristics during the trial.

Variants and Related Words

• Redeem (verb): To compensate for the faults or bad aspects of something; to gain or regain possession of something in exchange for payment; to save someone from sin or error.
  • He hoped his good deeds would redeem his past mistakes.
• Redemption (noun): The action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil; the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment.
  • The story is one of suffering and ultimate redemption.
• Redemptive (adjective): Acting to save someone from sin or error. Often used interchangeably with 'redeeming' in theological contexts.
  • She saw her work with the poor as a redemptive mission.

Synonyms

• Compensating: Making up for something undesirable.
• Saving: Preserving from harm or loss; (as in 'saving grace') a redeeming quality.
• Compensatory: Providing compensation.

Related Phrases

• Saving grace: A redeeming quality or feature that prevents something from being completely bad.
  • His punctuality was his saving grace as an employee.

Adjective

1. compensating for some fault or defect
   • the redeeming feature of the plan is its simplicity
   • his saving grace was his sense of humor
2. bringing about salvation or redemption from sin
   • saving faith
   • redemptive (or redeeming) love