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
That spreadsheet is your map of where agentic engineering pays off in your business.
—
Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Research suggests wildfire mitigation work pays off.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Sometimes that strategy pays off.
—Claire Zillman, Fortune, 28 May 2026
Work with an agent who knows Charlotte Local expertise pays off in negotiation.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
Furthermore, Sharpe spent six months learning how to tinkle the ivories, an impressive commitment which pays off during the pivotal piano battles and ensures a welcome absence of clumsy cutaways from fingers to face.
—Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 8 May 2026
Until 2037 the effective rate will be closer to 28%, as the city pays off debts related to a separate, previous set of incentives.
—Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Experience, often in multiple systems, pays off at skill positions more than ever.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
The service This is where staying in a luxury hotel really pays off.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2026
Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Research suggests wildfire mitigation work pays off.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Sometimes that strategy pays off.
—Claire Zillman, Fortune, 28 May 2026
Work with an agent who knows Charlotte Local expertise pays off in negotiation.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
Furthermore, Sharpe spent six months learning how to tinkle the ivories, an impressive commitment which pays off during the pivotal piano battles and ensures a welcome absence of clumsy cutaways from fingers to face.
—Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 8 May 2026
Until 2037 the effective rate will be closer to 28%, as the city pays off debts related to a separate, previous set of incentives.
—Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Experience, often in multiple systems, pays off at skill positions more than ever.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
The service This is where staying in a luxury hotel really pays off.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pays off
Verb
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Ohio pays nursing homes a daily rate for Medicaid residents and provides additional payments to facilities that meet certain quality benchmarks.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
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At the end of the evening all guests received a copy of the stunning new book Santo Domingo, published by the prestigious Assouline publishing house, which pays homage to the country’s vibrant capital city, its rich history, and its exhilarating future.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
Verb
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In one of the film’s most madcap and darkly comedic moments, Linda bribes her daughter with the promise of a pet hamster — who turns out to be a biter, desperate to escape its box.—
Rachel Brodsky,
Rolling Stone,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The SoonerSafe Rebate Program pays up to 75% of the cost of a new safe room, up to $3,000.—
Dale Denwalt,
Oklahoman,
6 Mar. 2026
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Norton, his interest piqued, pays up to discover there is more like it at Ox Lake, 600 miles farther north in the open tundra known as the Barren Grounds.—
Malcolm Forbes,
Washington Post,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Photos from the local information office in General Santos City, which has about 720,000 people, showed convenience stores and buildings crumbling in the aftermath of the quake.—
Kathleen Magramo,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
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Each puzzle has exactly one solution, so watch out for words or items that seem to belong to multiple categories!—
Mark Cooper,
New York Times,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Argentina plays the first game in Kansas City on June 16, and Ecuador meets Curacao here on June 20.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
10 June 2026
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Situated where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, the charming seaside town has miles of beaches, nature and bike trails, and bird sanctuaries in Cape Henlopen State Park.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Now Lestat has joined them, parading his vampirism to anyone who buys a ticket and drawing more and more ire from his law-abiding peers.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
7 June 2026
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And, when its time to sell, APMEX also buys gold, silver and platinum from consumers.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
Verb
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Intrigued, the Duke secretly seduces Gilda, breaks her heart and destroys Rigoletto’s life.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
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The victim of his sacrifice is Gretchen, a virgin whom Faust seduces and abandons in his devilish reverie, and who kills their illegitimate child.—
Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pays off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pays%20off. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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