1
as in pays
to give what is owed for
I finally paid off the loan
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bribes
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
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Recent Examples of pays off
Quick fixes rarely work—but a patient, consistent approach pays off.
—
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
The idea is that your hard work one night, pays off two-fold when leftovers can be easily turned into a second, different recipe, the next day.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025
This shift requires discipline but pays off.
—Sharon Wu, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Whether or not that bullishness pays off against Argentina is more or less academic.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Patience pays off in this situation.
—Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Cianfrance also spent years talking with the real Jeff Manchester from prison in the 15-minute intervals allowed in an effort to do justice to the story, and that level of research pays off.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2025
The band’s connection to Midwest emo from years past pays off in the album’s sincerity, especially in the moments that allow for stillness.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2025
While Gen Z hopes to make it to the top by job-hopping across companies, Maeztu has proved staying loyal pays off in the long-run.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2025
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
The idea is that your hard work one night, pays off two-fold when leftovers can be easily turned into a second, different recipe, the next day.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025
This shift requires discipline but pays off.
—Sharon Wu, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Whether or not that bullishness pays off against Argentina is more or less academic.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Patience pays off in this situation.
—Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Cianfrance also spent years talking with the real Jeff Manchester from prison in the 15-minute intervals allowed in an effort to do justice to the story, and that level of research pays off.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2025
The band’s connection to Midwest emo from years past pays off in the album’s sincerity, especially in the moments that allow for stillness.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2025
While Gen Z hopes to make it to the top by job-hopping across companies, Maeztu has proved staying loyal pays off in the long-run.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pays off
Verb
-
And nobody really pays attention.—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The job pays $100 for eight hours of work.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the most severe cases, the state pays up to $86,000 annually for a person’s home care, Reiskin said.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Personal truth meets public image pressure.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Home Soft Things cotton set, which includes a duvet cover and standard shams, is gingham meets buffalo plaid.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The country is installing wind and solar projects faster than any other nation and today has almost half the world’s wind farms, USA TODAY previously reported.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Arkansas now has 24 commitments for the 2026 class.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Nobody buys an Alfa Romeo to fade into the crowd.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Nobody buys an Alfa Romeo to fade into the crowd.—
Mark Phelan,
Freep.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Everything about the scene seduces the viewer into what dining while traveling in the most luxurious fashion could be, and once was.—
Kristin L. Wolfe,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
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In his youth, the blue-eyed Stamp was widely considered one of the most handsome men onscreen, and Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini used that to peculiar effect in Teorema (1968), casting the actor as a nameless and wordless visitor who seduces an entire household.—
Rhett Bartlett,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pays off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pays%20off. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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