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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of pay off
Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026
Short-term payment plan A short-term payment plan gives you up to 180 days to pay off your balance.
—Rebecca Safier, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
The payoff has now arrived in year four.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pay off
Verb
And now, its popularity has paid off.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026
Short-term payment plan A short-term payment plan gives you up to 180 days to pay off your balance.
—Rebecca Safier, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
What a posthumous payoff last night.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
The payoff has now arrived in year four.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 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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The auditors also claimed that there was a potential conflict of interest problem with the third-party assessment organizations that initially cleared GCC, seeing as they were paid by Microsoft.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Five decades on, NASA is planning to return in the next few years with its Artemis missions – but few Americans are even paying attention.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Two executives of a large utility, FirstEnergy, are now on trial for allegedly bribing Randazzo, who died by suicide after his own indictment.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
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According to grand jury transcripts disclosed by the DOJ from the criminal case against Noel, an FBI agent testified banking records of the guards were examined, and there was no evidence that Noel or Thomas had been bribed.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But execs — some of whom will meet with Vice President JD Vance today — with a slightly longer perspective look at this moment and see mainly chaos, not profit.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
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But General Mills fell 3% after the company behind the Pillsbury, Progresso and Wheaties brands reported a weaker profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is pivotal in reducing the risk of wildfires during these hazardous conditions.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The senior scored 15 points and made a pivotal steal late in the game as the Explorers (26-6) edged Sarasota 53-50 for their fifth consecutive state title in the FHSAA Class 7A boys’ state final at UNF Arena in Jacksonville.—
James Varsallone,
Miami Herald,
20 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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Senior officials from across the sprawling defense bureaucracy met biweekly in a conference room by Work’s office to tackle the new problem and change how American military leaders think.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
23 Mar. 2026
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The 73-year-old Pitino and 63-year-old Bill Self coached against each other for only the second time in the Hall of Famers' decades-long careers, meeting for the first time in March Madness.—
CBS New York Team,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Part of the funding will go to buy a mobile health unit, which will travel to these areas to provide care for the patients and invaluable experience under the supervision of clinical staff.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
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White House officials argue the waiver allows US partners to buy oil that China would have purchased anyway.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pay off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay%20off. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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