as in earnings
the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received
the payoff on the investment was only about $500
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Recent Examples of payoffs
Among Cederquist’s chump-change payoffs, in addition to the candy, were bottled water, a snow blower and a granite mailbox.
—
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 15 Oct. 2025
These concerns stem from high levels of speculative investment—totaling hundreds of billions of dollars—in artificial intelligence with few manifest payoffs, as well as the market’s top-heavy structure, with significant value concentrated in a handful of AI-bullish tech stocks.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Missing power, uncertain payoffs — One missing piece of the puzzle is how OpenAI will power all of these chips.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
This week’s episode is one that’s full of joy and inspiration and the payoffs of believing in yourself.
—Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
Any interruptions to basic research, such as changes to financial supports or institutions, may threaten future discoveries and potential payoffs for years to come.
—Ryan Summers, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
Still, for our patience, we’re eventually rewarded with a couple of dramatic payoffs.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Some analysts argue that other lunar resources like water ice may offer clearer early payoffs for deep-space logistics and fuel production.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025
Taking primo concert tickets doesn't compare to classic Kilpatrick capers like demanding $10,000 payoffs and pocketing cash a campaign worker pulled from her bra in the mayor's office.
—M.l. Elrick, Freep.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 15 Oct. 2025
These concerns stem from high levels of speculative investment—totaling hundreds of billions of dollars—in artificial intelligence with few manifest payoffs, as well as the market’s top-heavy structure, with significant value concentrated in a handful of AI-bullish tech stocks.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Missing power, uncertain payoffs — One missing piece of the puzzle is how OpenAI will power all of these chips.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
This week’s episode is one that’s full of joy and inspiration and the payoffs of believing in yourself.
—Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
Any interruptions to basic research, such as changes to financial supports or institutions, may threaten future discoveries and potential payoffs for years to come.
—Ryan Summers, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
Still, for our patience, we’re eventually rewarded with a couple of dramatic payoffs.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Some analysts argue that other lunar resources like water ice may offer clearer early payoffs for deep-space logistics and fuel production.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025
Taking primo concert tickets doesn't compare to classic Kilpatrick capers like demanding $10,000 payoffs and pocketing cash a campaign worker pulled from her bra in the mayor's office.
—M.l. Elrick, Freep.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for payoffs
Noun
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Beyond profits and sales, the metric to watch closest is bookings, which are the best predictor of future growth.—
Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
19 Oct. 2025
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So, as the rich lean on credit cards with greater rewards, the price merchants pay to accept them has also gone up — forcing merchants to choose between lower profits or raising their own prices.—
Gordon Ebanks,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Compelling value and scale at both Olive Garden has successfully served to help drive share gains, Cho added.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
20 Oct. 2025
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Leclerc had moved to the more durable mediums and was able to pull clear after the initial gains made by his rival.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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His directorial debut The Man Without A Face and 2025 action film Flight Risk saw smaller returns but both still took double their budgets in theatrical receipts alone.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
21 Oct. 2025
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When tailored to a hospital’s resources and executed well, these investments deliver exponential returns.—
Prof. Dr. med. Mazda Farshad,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Payoffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/payoffs. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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