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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
pay back
2 of 2phrase
as in reimburse
to make a return payment to
I already paid back what I owed you for groceries.
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Recent Examples of payback
Mark Scolforo, arkansasonline.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Expect jarring swings between popular, pro-growth moves and ruthless government gutting and payback.
—Axios, 16 Dec. 2024
The killing ignited an outpouring of stories about resentment toward U.S. health insurance companies while also shaking corporate America after some social media users called the shooting payback.
—Mark Scolforo and Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
The agreement for the loan was reached in September for $1.6 million, which would require a significant payback at a 409% annual interest rate.
—Tim Collins, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for payback 
Noun
The killing unleashed an outpouring of stories about resentment toward U.S. health insurance companies while also shaking corporate America after some social media users called the shooting payback.
—Mark Scolforo, arkansasonline.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Expect jarring swings between popular, pro-growth moves and ruthless government gutting and payback.
—Axios, 16 Dec. 2024
The killing ignited an outpouring of stories about resentment toward U.S. health insurance companies while also shaking corporate America after some social media users called the shooting payback.
—Mark Scolforo and Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
The agreement for the loan was reached in September for $1.6 million, which would require a significant payback at a 409% annual interest rate.
—Tim Collins, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for payback
Thesaurus Entries Near payback
Cite this Entry
“Payback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/payback. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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