as in paying up
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of paying off
Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2025
The experiments were paying off.
—Katie Thornton, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
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
All the hard work ended up paying off as Handy pulled off his wedding-day duties with ease.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Customers can enroll by putting down a $10 deposit, then paying off the overdue balance over 36 months, on top of the regular bill.
—Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 17 Oct. 2025
The Dodgers' 2025 regular season did not go as many baseball experts expected, with the team battling several injuries throughout the roster and several big-money signings not paying off.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
This approach is already paying off in some high-impact areas.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
Colorado's efforts are paying off.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
For example, your goal may be paying off $20,000 in student loans over the next three years, or perhaps automatically saving $100 every week for a whole year.
—Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2025
The experiments were paying off.
—Katie Thornton, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
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
All the hard work ended up paying off as Handy pulled off his wedding-day duties with ease.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Customers can enroll by putting down a $10 deposit, then paying off the overdue balance over 36 months, on top of the regular bill.
—Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 17 Oct. 2025
The Dodgers' 2025 regular season did not go as many baseball experts expected, with the team battling several injuries throughout the roster and several big-money signings not paying off.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
This approach is already paying off in some high-impact areas.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
Colorado's efforts are paying off.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paying off
Verb
-
In doing so, drivers can ensure their insurer has accurate information, thereby keeping them protected without paying more than necessary.—
Ethan M. Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
No one likes paying for insurance — and mounting premiums in 2025 didn't help matters.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There's no shame in a little bit of bribing to get the job done!—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
25 Dec. 2025
-
Nur is also accused of bribing a juror in the case and later pleaded guilty to that charge.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
25 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The owner doesn’t have to pay the prepayment penalty that is very common in commercial real estate.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The changes in loan borrowing and repayment could, and should, force a reckoning.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
This route can be particularly effective for those with steady incomes who simply need better terms and organized repayment.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Events like moving to a new neighborhood, buying a new car, changing jobs or even adjusting one’s daily commute can be enough to warrant a review of one’s risks and coverage.—
Ethan M. Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Overflowing with furniture and decor to breathe new life into your home and make any room tidier, there are so many helpful pieces worth buying.—
Ali Faccenda,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The state appropriates funds for the voucher program at the beginning of the fiscal year and then seeks federal reimbursement.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
-
These surveillance approaches would be further strengthened by requiring definitive laboratory diagnosis and definitive coding of syndromes before providers can bill to receive reimbursement.—
Deborah L. Birx,
STAT,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paying off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paying%20off. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share