Synonyms of payback

payback 1 of 2

noun

ˈpā-ˌbak 

as in revenge

the act or an instance of responding to an injury with an injury

we are hoping to get payback for the humiliating defeat we suffered at the hands of our rivals during our last matchup

Synonyms & Similar Words

• revenge
• retaliation
• retribution
• vengeance
• punishment
• reprisal
• compensation
• requital
• counterattack
• chastisement
• counter
• castigation
• counteroffensive
• correction
• amends
• penalty
• restitution
• indemnity
• wrath
• redress
• reparation(s)
• recompense
• indemnification
• desert(s)
• recoupment
• discipline
• nemesis
• remuneration
• quittance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mercy
• grace
• leniency
• clemency
• forgiveness
• pardon
• remission
• lenity

pay back

2 of 2

phrase

as in reimburse

to make a return payment to

I already paid back what I owed you for groceries.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reimburse
• repay
• refund
• compensate
• render (to)
• give back
• pay off
• reciprocate
• pay up
• satisfy
• pay down
• liquidate
• recompense
• quit
• remunerate
• settle

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of payback

Noun

Butts asked to reprogram money meant for highway projects and create a payback mechanism funded through a special tax district. —Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024

Artificial intelligence has been blamed for stealing work from humans and causing the current global unemployment crisis—so some job seekers are getting payback by using impressive AI tech tools to try to outsmart recruiters. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2024

Another surprising thing of note: Severide and Damon’s tiff ends in amends, not payback on Damon’s part. —Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 16 Oct. 2024

So the Dodgers franchise now has a chance for some psychic payback, 58 seasons later. —Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 13 Oct. 2024