as in revenge
the act or an instance of responding to an injury with an injury
we are hoping to get payback for the humiliating defeat we suffered at the hands of our rivals during our last matchup
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
pay back
2 of 2phrase
as in reimburse
to make a return payment to
I already paid back what I owed you for groceries.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of payback
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025
But their payback for two improbable victories was a loss that had seemed highly unlikely.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2025
The Chargers must wait until Week 17 to get a chance to gain a payback for the Houston Texans’ 32-12 rout in an AFC wild-card game in January.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 14 May 2025
Handout | Getty Images News | Getty Images In comments at a town hall on the NewsNation network, Trump said the deal represents payback for the money the U.S. has spent so far on supporting Ukraine’s war effort.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for payback
Noun
But Spaun admitted his plans to give some payback to Hovland.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025
But their payback for two improbable victories was a loss that had seemed highly unlikely.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2025
The Chargers must wait until Week 17 to get a chance to gain a payback for the Houston Texans’ 32-12 rout in an AFC wild-card game in January.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 14 May 2025
Handout | Getty Images News | Getty Images In comments at a town hall on the NewsNation network, Trump said the deal represents payback for the money the U.S. has spent so far on supporting Ukraine’s war effort.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for payback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for payback
Noun
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Failure to see the humanity in a source means students might miss when a law is written to exact revenge, when a diary is embellishing an event, or when a preacher’s sermon has a joke in it.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
15 July 2025
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More recently Fortune reports that ‘revenge quitting’ is ready to take its place, with disgruntled employees venting their frustrations by walking out the door.—
London Business School,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
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President Trump is reshaping a student loan cancellation program into what some fear will become a tool for political retribution, taking aim at organizations that serve immigrants and transgender youth.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 July 2025
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But the real question is what kind of concrete retribution Trump could try to exact on his erstwhile political ally and campaign donor.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Payback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/payback. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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