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
And by the time the principal and interest are fully paid off, in 2048, public payments for the team will total slightly less than one and a half billion dollars.
—
Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Five years later, that bet has paid off.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
The Tribune analysis found little evidence that the strategy has paid off financially, with the city eventually agreeing to settle the vast majority of cases.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The Gulf’s investment in fertilizer paid off, as by 2026, much of the developing world was reliant on Gulf fertilizers.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026
Coach Brad Underwood’s emphasis on recruiting in Eastern Europe has paid off in this tournament.
—ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
That commitment to authenticity appears to have paid off.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
The Huskies hope to get Demary back, but in the meantime, the decision to fill the end of the bench with older, experienced players like Millender has paid off.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
On Saturday, Mayer found out his hard work paid off.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Five years later, that bet has paid off.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
The Tribune analysis found little evidence that the strategy has paid off financially, with the city eventually agreeing to settle the vast majority of cases.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The Gulf’s investment in fertilizer paid off, as by 2026, much of the developing world was reliant on Gulf fertilizers.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026
Coach Brad Underwood’s emphasis on recruiting in Eastern Europe has paid off in this tournament.
—ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
That commitment to authenticity appears to have paid off.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
The Huskies hope to get Demary back, but in the meantime, the decision to fill the end of the bench with older, experienced players like Millender has paid off.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
On Saturday, Mayer found out his hard work paid off.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paid off
Verb
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The authority would be allowed to appoint an executive director, who would serve at the pleasure of the board and receive a salary paid out of the Chiefs’ annual rent payments.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
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The latest Fubo lineup deals come as the teams behind RSNs continue to eye streaming platform options as the traditional pay TV bundle — where RSNs were bundled into basic cable packages and subscribers paid for the channel — continues to decline amid cord-cutting.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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According to grand jury transcripts disclosed by the DOJ from the criminal case against Noel, an FBI agent testified banking records of the guards were examined, and there was no evidence that Noel or Thomas had been bribed.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
13 Mar. 2026
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Husted was Ohio's lieutenant governor-elect in early 2019, when prosecutors claim Jones and Dowling bribed the late Randazzo in exchange for legislative and regulatory favors.—
JULIE CARR SMYTH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Nooshin Meshkaty, an Iranian American businessperson, said even though the government has tried to limit people for 47 years, it has always been met with resistance.—
Laurie Perez,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Heading into the season, however, the gamble was paying off — news of her casting was met with fan excitement and a preview of the season that aired after the Oscars drew more than 5 million viewers.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paid off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paid%20off. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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