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
Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2026
So as long as the earnings continue to outpace estimates there may not be much payback in the near term.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
But Cousins managed a payback nearly four minutes later, scoring off a rebound of a Shane Pinto shot for a 1-0 Ottawa lead.
—CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Maybe all these injuries were payback for the good fortune of the past few seasons.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for payback
Noun
No franchise in football, and few in sports, have begged more patience from fans with so little payback across so much time.
—Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2026
So as long as the earnings continue to outpace estimates there may not be much payback in the near term.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
But Cousins managed a payback nearly four minutes later, scoring off a rebound of a Shane Pinto shot for a 1-0 Ottawa lead.
—CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Maybe all these injuries were payback for the good fortune of the past few seasons.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for payback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for payback
Noun
-
They are all caught in a web of deceit and revenge.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
-
But first, a week off, Selection Sunday and then the Bruins get back to their revenge tour.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Anthropic turns to the judiciary as a last resort to vindicate its rights and halt the Executive's unlawful campaign of retaliation.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Iran is throttling the vital Strait of Hormuz and attacking oil facilities across the Middle East in a deadly retaliation campaign that is hitting global supplies of oil and gas.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Those employees, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of retribution, described being asked a wide range of questions about government contracts and campaign donations.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Bombs are falling, people are dying and vows of revenge and retribution are being lobbed in escalating threats, all while untold taxpayer dollars are being spent on a military strategy that’s expected to continue for weeks with an undefined goal and conclusion.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Payback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/payback. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
