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
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Recent Examples of pay off
Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Now, the Americans' wager is paying off.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 19 Feb. 2026
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026
While affordable, the formula delivers solid pigment payoff and a glossy finish that works year-round.
—Taryn Brooke, Glamour, 16 Feb. 2026
Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pay off
Verb
As the world’s top technology executives converged on India’s AI Impact Summit this week, Google CEO Sundar Pichai pushed back on growing concerns over whether the tech industry’s massive AI spending spree can ever pay off.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Now, the Americans' wager is paying off.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
Researchers say the threat group behind it, tracked as KongTuke, appears to be shifting focus toward enterprise networks where the payoff is higher.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026
While affordable, the formula delivers solid pigment payoff and a glossy finish that works year-round.
—Taryn Brooke, Glamour, 16 Feb. 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
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The reality, however, will likely prove more complicated as the administration weighs its next moves and how — or whether — to issue refunds for tariffs already paid.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
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French President Emmanuel Macron called for calm on Saturday as some 3,000 people joined a march in Lyon organized by far-right groups to pay tribute to Deranque.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Fanatics uses these gatherings not to bribe or threaten their detractors into silence, but to educate them on the business.—
A.J. Perez,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
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When those efforts were ineffective, Roefaro bribed Taylor with tens of thousands of dollars in cash payments, between which Taylor issued a memo recommending the NYPD award the company a contract worth more than $11 million, according to the indictment.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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My group Unleash Prosperity warned repeatedly during the Biden years that the auto industry was sowing the seeds of its own destruction by getting hooked on the fool’s profits of taxpayer handouts for EVs.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
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Diageo is now expecting further weakness in 2026, with organic sales projected to be 2 to 3% lower, organic operating profit to be flat to up low single digits, and cut dividends to 20 cents per share.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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That matched the consensus forecast but kept the pivotal inflation measure well above the Fed’s 2% target.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2026
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After Clark stepped down on Tuesday because an internal investigation unearthed an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, the union announced on Wednesday that Meyer will take over on an interim basis entering a pivotal year for the future of the sport.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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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Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin sees a watershed moment for the country.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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The watershed moment marks a turning point for autonomous cars and the evolution of the Cannonball Run.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Szijjártó also said Saturday that Hungary will block a $106-billion EU loan to Ukraine meant to help Kyiv meet its military and economic needs for the next two years.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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Designed to meet the eco-friendly needs of operating construction equipment, it is built for use in urban and residential environments where noise and exhaust emissions are capped.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Of the 63% of international fans who attended the Games, the United States, at 14%, bought the second-most tickets.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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That message has pleased some on the right, who have praised Paramount over its decision to buy The Free Press, cut ties with Stephen Colbert, and bring back one of the president’s favorite film franchises.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pay off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay%20off. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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