1
as in paid
to give what is owed for
I finally paid off the loan
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bribed
to influence someone with a bribe
she paid off the security guard so that she could steal whatever she liked
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paid off
Early-aughts nostalgia paid off better than ’80s, as Masters of the Universe’s box-office numbers trailed behind the horror spoof.
—
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 7 June 2026
Eight software companies have paid off their term loans in full this year, including Worldpay, whose roughly $5 billion in loans left the index after Global Payments acquired it.
—Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
The Bears would retain all revenue generated by the dome and could eventually purchase it for one dollar once the 40-year bonds are paid off by taxpayers.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026
The fact that my parents never saved a cent paid off when I was admitted to Princeton University.
—Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 31 May 2026
Friday afternoon, all the work of building something from scratch paid off.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
Bisch operates with a heavy dose of precision, and it’s paid off.
—James Manso, Footwear News, 23 May 2026
The easy swings paid off all afternoon.
—Jaylon Thompson
may 23, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2026
For the Lepinskys, years of searching – and increasing their budget – in a tight market eventually paid off.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 7 June 2026
Eight software companies have paid off their term loans in full this year, including Worldpay, whose roughly $5 billion in loans left the index after Global Payments acquired it.
—Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
The Bears would retain all revenue generated by the dome and could eventually purchase it for one dollar once the 40-year bonds are paid off by taxpayers.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026
The fact that my parents never saved a cent paid off when I was admitted to Princeton University.
—Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 31 May 2026
Friday afternoon, all the work of building something from scratch paid off.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
Bisch operates with a heavy dose of precision, and it’s paid off.
—James Manso, Footwear News, 23 May 2026
The easy swings paid off all afternoon.
—Jaylon Thompson
may 23, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2026
For the Lepinskys, years of searching – and increasing their budget – in a tight market eventually paid off.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paid off
Verb
-
Prosecutors said Alvarez was paid a salary of $58,000 through the organization.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
The funds, paid out through private lenders including banks and credit unions, were intended to help employers maintain payrolls, hire back employees who may have been laid off, and cover overhead costs.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Two months later, chairman Lord Triesman, who passed away earlier this year, was forced to quit after being recorded speculating about referees being bribed at the World Cup.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
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Then, Chang-ho bribed Ye-jin’s chief competition at HIT Home Shopping, Yun-ji (Park Ah-in), to get the Good Morning Cream on the broadcast product list.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Larry King and Billie Jean King met at Cal State Los Angeles and married in 1965.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
The game Friday was the fourth year in a row the Colts and Highlanders met in the finals, and with the exception of 2025, the Colts have won each time.—
Ethan Hanson,
Daily News,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paid off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paid%20off. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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