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
Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
On Tuesday, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey made a similar move, writing to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asking for payback from the federal government for her constituents.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 11 Mar. 2026
With Colorado, there will be payback in mind not only for the blowout in February, but also because the Buffaloes eliminated TCU in the Big 12 Tournament last year.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Mar. 2026
The payback could come in the draft as the third running back taken in the top 10 in the past four years.
—ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for payback
Noun
Perhaps the Project Hail Mary actor will get his payback this Saturday night?
—Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
On Tuesday, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey made a similar move, writing to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asking for payback from the federal government for her constituents.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 11 Mar. 2026
With Colorado, there will be payback in mind not only for the blowout in February, but also because the Buffaloes eliminated TCU in the Big 12 Tournament last year.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Mar. 2026
The payback could come in the draft as the third running back taken in the top 10 in the past four years.
—ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for payback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for payback
Noun
-
There were executions, mostly of the revenge variety, and not ordered by the politburo in Hanoi.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
And the Knicks better be ready, ready for the Celtics to attempt to exact some revenge for the way things ended a season ago.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Top-ranking Iranian officials threatened retaliation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The complaint also alleges retaliation over his frequent safety concerns and suggests that the water drinking incident was a way for United to justify his termination.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Another employee spoke with The New Yorker for the 2016 story while wearing a disguise, worried about retribution.—
Paula Mejía,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The politics of retribution This is the context within which the death penalty legislation operates.—
Arie Perliger,
The Conversation,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Payback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/payback. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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