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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paid off
That certainly paid off this spring.
—
Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
The team’s patience with Manaea paid off.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 13 June 2026
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 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
Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
The team’s patience with Manaea paid off.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 13 June 2026
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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paid off
Verb
-
But while a cash prize might be dangled, it's often never paid — particularly if the kid carrying out the crime gets busted.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
-
Swift and Kelce reportedly paid $3 million to rent the 820,000-square-foot Madison Square Garden for three days — one to set up, one for the nuptials, and one to strike everything, according to TMZ.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The Nazis ordered the case closed after six months, and a local official was allegedly bribed to record his death as an accident to ensure Sindelar would have a state funeral.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
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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
Verb
-
The pope also met abuse survivors privately and urged Spain’s bishops to listen to victims and make reparations.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
-
The couple met at an audition for Landon’s Western series Father Murphy.—
Kelly Martinez,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paid off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paid%20off. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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