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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
Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
The President said that the tariff revenue would also soon begin paying off the national debt, which is listed as over $38 trillion.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 10 Nov. 2025
Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2025
Unused elements feel like broken promises, while intentional details create cohesion, tension and a satisfying payoff.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pay off
Verb
The Red Sox held on to him, which paid off when Rafaela started seeing more infield opportunities thanks to injuries.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
The President said that the tariff revenue would also soon begin paying off the national debt, which is listed as over $38 trillion.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
This week’s Vault assortment presents a trio of products and experiences that exemplify this idea and offer you the satisfaction of already knowing there’s a payoff for all your efforts.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2025
Unused elements feel like broken promises, while intentional details create cohesion, tension and a satisfying payoff.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
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
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In Cincinnati, at least 10 doctors have received over $1 million in industry payments, according to an Enquirer investigation, with Archdeacon and Sagi being fifth and seventh highest paid on the list, respectively.—
Elizabeth B. Kim,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Nov. 2025
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The first tranche of stock gets paid out if Tesla hits a market capitalization of $2 trillion, about $500 billion more than the current valuation.—
Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s X has come clean about attempts by an organized cybercrime ring to bribe staff in an attempt to reactivate scam accounts peddling dubious cryptocurrencies.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
8 Nov. 2025
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Esformes even bribed the basketball coach at the University of Pennsylvania to classify his son as a scholarship athlete, according to a trial witness.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The back of the envelope valuation for creator businesses is six times profit, Claire Geddie, Director of Creator Partnerships at investment outfit Electrify told the crowd.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
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Four years ago, the Panama Papers, a massive leak of documents from the law firm Mossack Fonseca, revealed how the rich and devious evade taxes and launder profits through opaque offshore shell companies.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Then, on the pivotal play of the game, Becht ran untouched for nine yards on a great play call by coach Matt Campbell to ice the game.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Nov. 2025
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Tiger Woods' son, Charlie Woods, has capped off a pivotal year in his junior golf career by earning a spot on the prestigious 2025 Rolex Junior All-America First Team, a recognition awarded by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) to the top junior golfers in the world.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Adjective
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Advertisement The Army’s World War II experiment was a watershed event.—
Time,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
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Already, the government of Bangladesh has limited control over the country’s water supply because only about 7% of the watershed area of the Brahmaputra, Meghna and Ganges – the three main rivers that flow into the country – are within Bangladesh.—
Pintu Kumar Mahla,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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So commences a night of harrowing encounters and trauma both physical and mental, starting with Ron and Mike’s trip to meet Oliver at a bar after one of his shows.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
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When the Huskies lined up for a 50-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, Ben Barten’s outstretched hand met the ball, sending it skittering across the slick turf.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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If this year’s March and June get-togethers were learning exercises — including for the staff after Tuchel began work in January — the next two and the one starting today (Sunday) are all about creating an atmosphere the players and the English public can all buy into.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Cureate does not warehouse or distribute food products, the company buys purchases the food order and the farmer delivers it to the customer, Bryden said.—
Cristina LaRue,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pay off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay%20off. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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