Expiates, with "for"

ATONES

Think of a word that means making amends or seeking forgiveness, often used in religious or moral contexts. It starts with "A" and rhymes with "tones."

The word "expiates" means to make amends or pay for a wrongdoing, which directly points to "ATONES." The clue adds "with 'for'" as a hint that the answer is often paired with that word, like in the phrase "atones for one's sins." It’s a straightforward definition clue with a small grammatical nudge to confirm the answer.