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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of payback
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Instead of tackling the usual staples like hierarchy, territoriality, simmering violence and payback, this is primarily a reflection on care work as a gift to the bestower as much as the receiver.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
Fakroune is accused of posing as Angelino Escobar, the son of the famed Columbian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, and lying to people about his connections to nonexistent Italian mafiosos to ensure payback on his loans.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
But to conflate Israel with one’s identity in being Jewish, or to spread false information about Jews as some sort of payback against Israel, is antisemitism.
—Kevin Wilk, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for payback
Noun
Maybe all these injuries were payback for the good fortune of the past few seasons.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Instead of tackling the usual staples like hierarchy, territoriality, simmering violence and payback, this is primarily a reflection on care work as a gift to the bestower as much as the receiver.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
Fakroune is accused of posing as Angelino Escobar, the son of the famed Columbian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, and lying to people about his connections to nonexistent Italian mafiosos to ensure payback on his loans.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
But to conflate Israel with one’s identity in being Jewish, or to spread false information about Jews as some sort of payback against Israel, is antisemitism.
—Kevin Wilk, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for payback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for payback
Noun
-
The Uxbridge Police Department in Massachusetts posted a tongue-in-cheek poem urging residents to get revenge by reporting exes with active warrants.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The Cyclones earned some revenge for an 84-63 loss at Kansas that started the Jayhawks’ run of Big 12 wins.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Sappenfield was permanently banned by the United States Center for SafeSport in May 2024 for physical and emotional misconduct, retaliation, abuse of process, and failure to report a potential SafeSport violation.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
16 Feb. 2026
-
December was a busy month for retaliation.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Trump remains unpredictable, though, and eager to seek retribution.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Captain Auston Matthews made the pass to Guentzel, and Zach Werenski — who accidentally knocked the puck into his own net on Denmark’s first goal credited to Nick Olesen — had the secondary assist to get some retribution.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Payback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/payback. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
