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
Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
Many of my younger buyers are also saving for a wedding or paying off student loans, so they may be inclined to take advantage of a low down payment.
—Aly J Yale, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Around this time, Turner’s fortunes turned, as his investments in film properties began paying off.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 6 May 2026
Patrick, your recent comments about the liberation of paying off your student loans have gotten a ton of traction online.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
Most of the early withdrawals stemmed from unexpected emergencies and paying off looming debt.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
The effort appears to be paying off.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
In February, Pepsi cut prices on Lay's, Tostitos, Doritos and Cheetos by as much as 15% to try to win back shoppers; the efforts are paying off already.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
These considerations are paying off as handsomely as genuflecting to government power used to (and often still does).
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
In any relationship, couples make a lot of decisions about finances, from whether to create joint accounts or keep them separate to how to approach paying off debt.
—Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
Many of my younger buyers are also saving for a wedding or paying off student loans, so they may be inclined to take advantage of a low down payment.
—Aly J Yale, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Around this time, Turner’s fortunes turned, as his investments in film properties began paying off.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 6 May 2026
Patrick, your recent comments about the liberation of paying off your student loans have gotten a ton of traction online.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
Most of the early withdrawals stemmed from unexpected emergencies and paying off looming debt.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
The effort appears to be paying off.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
In February, Pepsi cut prices on Lay's, Tostitos, Doritos and Cheetos by as much as 15% to try to win back shoppers; the efforts are paying off already.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
These considerations are paying off as handsomely as genuflecting to government power used to (and often still does).
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paying off
Verb
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Investors are paying closer attention to who will buy their coins back, at what spread, and how quickly transactions can be completed.—
Ascend Agency,
New York Daily News,
4 May 2026
-
His journey shaped my belief that hard work, opportunity, strong public education and good-paying jobs are the foundation of a strong middle class.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Verb
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In 2017, Lee was convicted of bribing then-president Park Geun-hye with almost $8 million to gain her support for a merger.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
16 Apr. 2026
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And after CLEAResult fired Darlington in 2017, the brothers began bribing CLEAResult employee Peter Marra — sending him cash and gift cards for special favors like getting heads-ups on inspections and audits.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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With weak credit standards and features like prepayment penalties, interest-only payments, balloon payments and negative amortization, the subprime mortgage space was not concerned about the borrowers’ ability to repay the mortgage.—
Jeff Lazerson,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
-
Restaurants and services used to be easily booked without prepayment or guarantee.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
6 May 2026
Noun
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That dynamic is forcing more people to reconsider their repayment strategies — and quickly.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reached a $120 million settlement with Navient in 2024, after accusing the lender of steering student loan borrowers away from affordable repayment plans and into expensive forbearances.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Verb
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In early April, Ulta CEO Kecia Steelman told Yahoo Finance that the company is seeing more consumers buying hair treatment products as part of the GLP-1 craze.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
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Though their niche market is pregnant women, non-moms are buying the scrubs, too, apparently for the comfort factor.—
Lisa Gutierrez
May 1,
Kansas City Star,
1 May 2026
Noun
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The casino said all workers also get paid time off, life insurance, tuition reimbursement and long-term disability insurance perks.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado,
Sacbee.com,
3 May 2026
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Those who paid cash would have to wait for reimbursement along with the company’s other creditors.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paying off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paying%20off. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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