as in paying up
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1
as in paying
to give what is owed for
I finally paid off the loan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bribing
to influence someone with a bribe
she paid off the security guard so that she could steal whatever she liked
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Recent Examples of paying off
Becky Sullivan, NPR, 19 Feb. 2026
Some of the troubleshooting efforts may be paying off, as NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced earlier this month that a test in which engineers partially filled SLS’s hydrogen tanks showed improvement.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
While that was a bit less certain this time last year, Alphabet is now showing that the spending is paying off.
—CNBC, 5 Feb. 2026
Aside from paying off interest and principal, additional funds from a $875-million fundraising campaign will go toward public art, collection moving costs, office renovations and general landscaping.
—Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Blueprint has garnered a global following for beating the market and paying off investors.
—Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
For the government, the investments in Feinberg were paying off.
—Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
Over the last four weeks, the Patriots have called almost 12 runs per game with an extra offensive lineman, and the extra beef is paying off.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
After years of struggling, cattle raisers are paying off debt and building out their operational infrastructures.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Now, the Americans' wager is paying off.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 19 Feb. 2026
Some of the troubleshooting efforts may be paying off, as NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced earlier this month that a test in which engineers partially filled SLS’s hydrogen tanks showed improvement.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
While that was a bit less certain this time last year, Alphabet is now showing that the spending is paying off.
—CNBC, 5 Feb. 2026
Aside from paying off interest and principal, additional funds from a $875-million fundraising campaign will go toward public art, collection moving costs, office renovations and general landscaping.
—Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Blueprint has garnered a global following for beating the market and paying off investors.
—Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
For the government, the investments in Feinberg were paying off.
—Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
Over the last four weeks, the Patriots have called almost 12 runs per game with an extra offensive lineman, and the extra beef is paying off.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
After years of struggling, cattle raisers are paying off debt and building out their operational infrastructures.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paying off
Verb
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The latest chapter in this endless epic belongs to Kansas State, which is trying to line item its way out of paying Jerome Tang the money the administration offered him.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Purported ransom notes were sent to news outlets, but two deadlines for paying have passed.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Even without bribing the bots to provide direct advertising, brands are already trying to find ways to get into the good books of AI search results.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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Then, in February of last year, Coral Gables criminal defense attorney David Macey was indicted along with Pagan on charges of bribing Costanzo to obtain confidential information about drug-trafficking suspects to recruit them as potential clients for his law firm.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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For non-Teslas, prepayment setup is important.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
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For example, other lenders charge for prepayment penalties, which Gravity doesn’t.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Backlog remains for affordable repayment plans More than 626,000 federal student loan holders remain stuck in a backlog of applications for an affordable repayment plan, the Education Department reported.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
17 Feb. 2026
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Making only the minimum payment on a five-figure balance can stretch the repayment timeline out for a decade or more.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That went to local author and historian Sam Sweet, who visited the store with no intention of buying anything and left with the Viktor, which now sits on his writing desk.—
Oliver Wang,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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In December 2024, Saks Global purchased the Neiman Marcus Group and proceeded to consolidate the Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue buying teams into one, while the Bergdorf Goodman buying team remains separate.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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At issue in the contract negotiations are the reimbursement rates for services that Aetna pays to UConn Health — the parent of John Dempsey Hospital, a network of clinics and more than 700 providers.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
22 Feb. 2026
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App available No Policy highlights Mile Auto offers liability, collision and comprehensive insurance, as well as optional personal injury protection, MedPay, rental vehicle reimbursement and roadside assistance.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paying off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paying%20off. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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