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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 payoff
Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 17 Aug. 2025
Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 27 Aug. 2025
Over time, this system led to an industry of bail bond businesses that pay off your bond in exchange for a fee.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
The payoff is a drolly whirligig centerpiece sequence in which their small apartment is suddenly swarming with Ashley’s boyfriends.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 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
A little courage can pay off big time.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 27 Aug. 2025
Over time, this system led to an industry of bail bond businesses that pay off your bond in exchange for a fee.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Along the way, Long Story Short offers remarkable Rube Goldbergian comic set pieces, like a teenage Shira inadvertently making a spectacle of herself at a school dance, or the payoff to a story about Yoshi getting a job selling mattresses that come in a small can.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
The payoff is a drolly whirligig centerpiece sequence in which their small apartment is suddenly swarming with Ashley’s boyfriends.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for payoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for payoff
Verb
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There are also fears that doctors in these practices may focus too much on keeping paying patients happy, rather than providing the best disease management or medical care, researchers said.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Sep. 2025
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The jump in community college enrollment shows that more people feel this type of education sets them up to find a well-paying job without going into heavy debt, officials at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College said.—
Bebe Hodges,
The Enquirer,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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There will be a booth highlighting the work of Loveland High School art students and booths dedicated to two non-profits.—
Caroline Ritzie,
The Enquirer,
31 Aug. 2025
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Coca-Cola has argued that the IRS's valuation analysis is flawed and that an old closing agreement, which provided for a simple profit allocation formula, should be honored moving forward.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Seven top 10s in the past 11 races point towards him being on the upswing at the most pivotal time of the year.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
25 Aug. 2025
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Don't Forget Charcoal There are special cleaning considerations to remember when using a charcoal grill, and getting rid of the ash promptly is pivotal for taste and safety.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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To get at why, the researchers dug into the metabolic profiles of people in each genetic risk group.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
25 Aug. 2025
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The best interpretation from this and other trends is that renewables are replacing fossil sources in meeting new energy demand but haven’t started to displace them on a global basis.—
Scott Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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Having won all six of his races across three Grand Slam Track meets between April and June, Bednarek was crowned Racer of the Year in the inaugural season of the league launched by sprinting great Michael Johnson.—
Coy Wire,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Two anonymous donors each donated $500, and a third donated $1,200 to buy supplies.—
Alec Johnson,
jsonline.com,
30 Aug. 2025
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Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Lee’s defeat represented a watershed moment for the groups fighting for public lands.—
Ali Nolan,
Outside,
27 Aug. 2025
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Antitrust scholars suggest this case could be a watershed moment.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Payoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/payoff. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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