pay off 1 of 3

verb

Definition of pay offnext
1
as in to pay
to give what is owed for I finally paid off the loan

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

payoff

2 of 3

noun

ˈpā-ˌȯf How to pronounce payoff (audio)
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

payoff

3 of 3

adjective

as in pivotal

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Dissimilar 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 pay off
Verb
In early 2025, Madden moved her account to Grove Bank & Trust in Miami and soon learned from the bank that her former Northern Trust investment adviser — Walters — had been using her money to pay off his large credit card debts. — Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026 Sometimes a big swing pays off, and Paradise's second season is the perfect example of that. — Samantha Highfill, Entertainment Weekly, 6 July 2026
Noun
The question is whether the posture payoff is hype or something real. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026 For borrowers, this often represents an opportunity to negotiate a dramatically lower payoff amount. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 1 July 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
  1. pay
  2. bribe
  3. profit
  4. pivotal
  5. meet
  6. get at
  7. watershed
  8. buy
Verb
  • While Walmart isn’t an official sponsor of the World Cup, either, taking advantage of the social media chatter helps the company glom onto the tournament without paying FIFA for the privilege – especially when attention spans are divided.
    — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • Cruise ship pay varies widely by job, but free housing, meals and other perks can significantly boost overall compensation.
    — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Definition of pay
Verb
  • In exchange, the indictment said, the bettors bribed Beasley and his debts to Davis were reduced or eliminated.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
  • Undercover recordings allegedly captured Owens detailing how public officials could be bribed and how the illicit funds could be laundered through businesses and campaign donations, the outlet reported.
    — Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of bribe
Noun
  • The International Air Transport Association last month warned that global airlines could see their profits halved this year due to rising jet fuel costs, which are expected to be about 70% higher year-on-year.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • Oil prices, which skyrocketed for the first few months of the US-Israeli war with Iran, are now coming back down, closing a window of opportunity for Russia to use higher profits on its exports to close its widening budget deficit.
    — Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of profit
Adjective
  • Defense experts and strategists have described its drone campaign as pivotal in helping to stall Russia’s military momentum, while also warning that Kyiv’s deep-strike successes have drastically raised the risk of escalation.
    — Katie Foley, CNBC, 10 July 2026
  • Go behind the scenes with Forbes Under 30 founders, creators and musicians—and the investors and mentors who backed them—to hear the real stories, lessons and pivotal moments behind building something that lasts.
    — Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of pivotal
Verb
  • The nine-bedroom property meets that tradition with more than 500 feet of frontage, a sandy beach, boathouse and the largest permanent in-water dock on the lake.
    — Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Infinitely adjustable to meet all tastes and demands, from coarse to super fine seasoning.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026
Definition of meet
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of get at
Adjective
  • Two players acquired during the watershed opening day of free agency have little name recognition.
    — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • And that’s for showing up at a red carpet, not for a watershed celebrity wedding that threatens to overshadow America’s 250th birthday on July 4.
    — Marc Malkin, Variety, 2 July 2026
Definition of watershed
Verb
  • This pursuit of inner peace, whether through vacations or symbolic purchases, may reflect a generation trying to buy calm in a country where certainty is itself a luxury.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • La Scuola del Cuoio carries on Florence’s historic leather-making tradition and is the perfect place to buy a high-quality artisan bag.
    — Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026
Definition of buy

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Cite this Entry

“Pay off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay%20off. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of pay off for Spanish Speakers

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