1
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
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
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Recent Examples of pay off
Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2026
Will that commitment pay off on Sunday?
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Brendan Keegan, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2026
So the payoff from that NBA lemon law was the second-rounder.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pay off
Verb
The work paid off in a huge way.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2026
Will that commitment pay off on Sunday?
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
Then work like the payoff is tomorrow.
—Brendan Keegan, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2026
So the payoff from that NBA lemon law was the second-rounder.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 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
Verb
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Billy Crystal paid tribute to the late Rob Reiner by highlighting the filmmaker’s many notable movies and impact on the industry.—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
16 Mar. 2026
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The wait times and pay changes are a result of a partial shutdown that began in mid-February after Congress failed to pass funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees TSA.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Husted was Ohio's lieutenant governor-elect in early 2019, when prosecutors claim Jones and Dowling bribed the late Randazzo in exchange for legislative and regulatory favors.—
JULIE CARR SMYTH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
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Smartmatic's parent company was charged in a Florida federal court in October with conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by bribing a Philippine government official to get business, and with conspiring to launder money.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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There is no expectation to make a profit from the rental market and back-to-back bookings are avoided to ensure the house and staff operate at their best.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Mar. 2026
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Elsewhere, German autos giant BMW said Thursday that net profit for 2025 exceeded 7 billion euros, slightly above the consensus estimate compiled by LSEG.—
Chloe Taylor,Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Though the mariachi ensemble didn’t play on the official recording — Mars’ band, The Hooligans, handled the studio production — the group played a pivotal role in shaping the visuals that have already captivated nearly 34 millions of viewers on YouTube, since its’ two-week release.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
13 Mar. 2026
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For the first two seasons, Labrinth has played a pivotal role in the show’s music, soundtracking some of the most emotional moments and creating a sonic identity for the series.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Adjective
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The early 1990s were a watershed moment for female health.—
Annalisa Merelli,
STAT,
12 Mar. 2026
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That made the company’s move to bring memory manufacturing back to Boise — with the 2022 announcement of a $15 billion fab — a watershed moment for Micron and the state.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sometimes the coat is the outfit, and this one certainly meets the moment.—
Minty Mellon,
Vogue,
16 Mar. 2026
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Now, on Wednesday, the city will be meeting to decide whether to close them down permanently.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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According to the article, larger trucking companies tend to hedge their fuel costs by locking in rates, because if the fuel is already bought, higher market prices don't play such a big role in operations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
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As the publication struggles to keep up with the evolving media landscape, the pair has to convince fellow former assistant Emily, now head of a luxury brand, to buy advertising that could save Runway.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pay off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay%20off. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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