1
2
as in to bribe
to influence someone with a bribe
she paid off the security guard so that she could steal whatever she liked
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in profit
the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received
the payoff on the investment was only about $500
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in pivotal
Related Words
Dissimilar 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 payoff
Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 17 Aug. 2025
Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025
Debby Ryan's years as a nanny are about to pay off.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2025
Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
Supporters argue the payoff would be substantial.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for payoff
Verb
Not wrong for much of the last three decades — but Saturday night’s gig, and all the joyous revelry surrounding it, showed why the Live ’25 Tour has been payoff enough for none of them to look back in anger at any of it.
—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 17 Aug. 2025
Noun
Pay down high-interest debts The first thing to do with any extra money is to pay off high-interest debts, like credit card bills, which can quickly gobble up any windfall.
—Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025
Debby Ryan's years as a nanny are about to pay off.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
In 2023, podcast host Joe Rogan invited the two to debate — promising $100,000 to the charity of Hotez's choice as a payoff.
—Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
Supporters argue the payoff would be substantial.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for payoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for payoff
Verb
-
Social media companies and influencers paid to promote pharmaceutical offerings without proper disclosures will also be targeted by the federal government, according to CNBC, which cited unnamed senior officials.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The backslide is worse for Black women, who in 2024 were paid 65 cents for every dollar paid to White men.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
According to court records, Recio agreed to bribe Costanzo, who was the DEA supervisor in Miami, in exchange for his providing the private investigator with confidential information about narcotics investigations.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Reviewing fake CDLs experts say are sometimes issued by unscrupulous American trucking schools or bribed Mexican bureaucrats.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In August, the president announced a deal between the federal government and Nvidia, allowing the American chip producer to sell advanced semiconductors to Chinese buyers in exchange for a 15% cut of the profits.—
Christian Datoc,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Finally, profits should be adequately reinvested in the company with the goal to support cash generation in time.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
While both teams chase Kansas City in the loaded AFC, Buffalo’s win could prove pivotal come January.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
With the actress as the first spokesperson, the program will give women equitable access to menopause support and resources in hopes of ending the stigma surrounding the pivotal stage of life.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Fast-food restaurants, once the first stop for Americans looking to get at least one meal in before a long work day, are fighting to win back customers.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Compared with Let’s Move’s easygoing recommendations—children should get at least one hour of physical activity each day, and everyone should drink one more glass of water—MAHA is also considerably more macho.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Plenty of agency officials were already put off by the DOGErs, who often issued peremptory orders to meet with them and answer questions.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders and Russell Wilson #3 of the New York Giants meet after the Washington Commanders beat the New York Giants 21-6 during the game at Northwest Stadium on September 07, 2025 in Landover, Maryland.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
With that in mind, the question of whether to rent or buy favors renting, to the tune of about $812 per month on average, which Zelman reckons is the biggest margin since the early 1980s.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Facing one of these situations late in the quarter, Hartman bought time scrambling to his right before finding Brown behind the defense on the sideline for a 38-yard pass to the 9-yard line.—
Jordan Neal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In the spring of 1997, Arundhati Roy’s debut novel, The God of Small Things, became an international sensation, marking a watershed moment in a new wave of Indian writing in English.—
Anderson Tepper,
The Atlantic,
8 Sep. 2025
-
This season was worthy of a watershed memory.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Payoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/payoff. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share