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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of payback

Noun

Paulie does eventually get some payback later, though, with an open-handed slap that easily knocks Reacher to the ground—but that’s only the beginning. —Tim Lammers, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025

Rather than take the invitation to cooperate, Mr. Trump appeared to decide that Ukraine’s natural resources should serve as payback for past American support. —Anton Troianovski, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025

Notably, the agreement avoids any direct debt obligations and eliminates the original $500 billion payback target. —Katya Soldak, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025

Trump has also previously claimed in an interview that a deal would give the U.S. access to $500 billion worth of rare earth minerals and that this would be payback for aid already received by Kyiv. —Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2025