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.
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Recent Examples of pay off
Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
Now, just over 10 years later, that leap of faith is paying off following the company's $75 billion initial public offering.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 12 June 2026
Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 8 June 2026
The potential payoff is significant.
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 5 June 2026
Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pay off
Verb
The strategy appears to be paying off.
—Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
Now, just over 10 years later, that leap of faith is paying off following the company's $75 billion initial public offering.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 12 June 2026
Noun
Your patience with partners and close friends will bring an immediate payoff.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 8 June 2026
The potential payoff is significant.
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 5 June 2026
Adjective
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
See All Example Sentences for pay off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay off
Verb
-
His daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, have never paid a penny in rent for their grace and favour homes in London, despite being non-working royals; King Charles foots the bill using his private wealth, but at a discount on the market rent of about 40%.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
14 June 2026
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The pool deck, aft bar and outdoor buffet area are popular, while paid spaces such as Vibe Beach Club offer an alternative for those willing to spend extra for more room.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Similar raids by the feds at addresses tied to then-Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and then-San Leandro City Councilmember Bryan Azevedo eventually led to criminal indictments against both politicians, as well as the businessmen accused of bribing them.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
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The Nazis ordered the case closed after six months, and a local official was allegedly bribed to record his death as an accident to ensure Sindelar would have a state funeral.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
Noun
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The fraudulent wagers resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in profits for bettors, prosecutors said.—
Tom Winter,
NBC news,
10 June 2026
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Customers reading the bill There’s a conflict building in the AI business between model providers’ need to generate profits and the increasing cost to clients of using those services.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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Each ring tells the story of a pivotal season in the team’s storied history.—
Denny Alfonso,
New York Times,
12 Dec. 2025
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Chris becomes more of a pivotal character in the story beginning in author Rick Riordan's book Sea of Monsters, upon which season 2 is based.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Gharibabadi said the 60-day negotiations between Tehran and Washington after Friday’s signing of the agreement will hinge on the US meeting several obligations, including the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
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Bumping into someone wasn’t met with frustration, but with a grin and a comment about the Knicks, as if the entire city had agreed to give each other a pass from the stereotypical crankiness for one single night.—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
14 June 2026
Verb
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The three discuss a variety of topics to get at the Panthers’ playoff fate.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Dec. 2025
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The Sierra and Southern Cascades above an elevation of 4,500 feet are expected to get at least 1 foot of snow, while 4 to 8 feet of snow are expected above 5,500 feet.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
23 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Angry Ginge is one of an army of content creators now jumping aboard mainstream British TV, and his win could be a watershed moment.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
8 Dec. 2025
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The event served as a watershed moment for the evolution of seismic monitoring and building standards in Japan.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Nov. 2025
Verb
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White, along with casino and resort executive brothers Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, bought the nearly bankrupt fight promotion for only $2 million in January 2001.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
15 June 2026
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That was actually the settlement of a long-term dispute over arms Iran bought from the US before the Islamic revolution.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pay off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay%20off. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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