1
2
as in to bribe
to influence someone with a bribe
she paid off the security guard so that she could steal whatever she liked
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in profit
the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received
the payoff on the investment was only about $500
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in pivotal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pay off
Mike Defabo, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
The roof damage cost millions to repair — bonds that King County didn't pay off until 2015, 15 years after the venue's destruction.
—Melissa Santos, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025
Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2025
Estimates of the payoff from the Inflation Reduction Act’s IRS spending increase range from $561 billion in cumulative additional revenue through 2031 (and $861 billion if the spending increase were extended to 2034) to roughly breakeven.
—Justin Fox, Twin Cities, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pay off
Verb
After the Steelers benched Justin Fields amid a 4-2 start to the season and turned to Wilson, the move initially paid off so well that Mike Tomlin was receiving Coach of the Year buzz.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
The roof damage cost millions to repair — bonds that King County didn't pay off until 2015, 15 years after the venue's destruction.
—Melissa Santos, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
For a team with zero club basketball players and a roster full of players who have grown up together, Crowder says the payoff of making the title game is even sweeter.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2025
Estimates of the payoff from the Inflation Reduction Act’s IRS spending increase range from $561 billion in cumulative additional revenue through 2031 (and $861 billion if the spending increase were extended to 2034) to roughly breakeven.
—Justin Fox, Twin Cities, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pay off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay off
Verb
-
The company ultimately paid the boxer over $137 million for the rights to use his name on the product.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
22 Mar. 2025
-
In 1999, Salton Inc. paid $137.5 million for rights to use Foreman’s name on grills.—
Mark Puleo,
The Athletic,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Florida Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna is accusing leaders from her own party of threatening and bribing other lawmakers to block her effort to allow proxy voting for new parents in the House of Representatives.—
Barbara Sprunt,
NPR,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Although the people accused of bribing Jenkins did not receive proper training, they were given roles as law enforcement officials, prosecutors said.—
Natalie Demaree,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The idea of an investment obligation is based on the French model so that the profits [from the streamers] don’t flow untaxed to the USA, so to speak.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Southern European countries wanted contributions to be relative to their GDP and asked the EU to find other funding sources, such as the remaining profits generated by Russia's frozen assets.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Despite his criticism, Boyega said his time with the franchise became a pivotal point for his acting career.—
Cheyanne M. Daniels,
The Hill,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Important advice for all university leaders at a pivotal moment in higher education.—
Karen Weaver,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The interview took place shortly after Zelensky met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
-
The Pisces moon meeting Venus and Neptune deepens an emotional connection.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Then again, Republicans aren’t buying the Cybertruck en masse.—
Saahil Desai,
The Atlantic,
29 Mar. 2025
-
According to charging documents, the Fresno County man used his company, G&G Business Ventures LLC, to buy the parts, then sold them in another state to a metal recycling company.—
Krystal Nurse,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The arrest and recent imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu sent shockwaves through Turkey, marking a decisive shift toward full autocracy.—
Bilal Bilici,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Sending pinch-runner Jason Heyward from first base to third base in the decisive four-run seventh inning, Tatis peppered reliever Hector Neris’ sinker to center field.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Travis weeks earlier cited as the deciding and unprecedented factor.—
Chris Vannini,
The Athletic,
9 Dec. 2024
-
As a result of the split, Sheboygan city residents play no deciding role in either of the two districts, which both lean heavily Republican.—
Journal Sentinel,
Journal Sentinel,
9 Jan. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Pay off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay%20off. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share