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
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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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of payback
Kate Nishimura,
Footwear News,
15 June 2026
The intended insult was Dorit’s payback after Sutton spent the season mocking her costar’s wallet size.
—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
12 June 2026
This wasn’t just a World Cup quarter-final but payback for England’s win at that stage of the tournament in 1966 and revenge, as Maradona later wrote in his autobiography, for the Falklands War of four years earlier.
—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Reed’s victims relished a chance at payback when the writer tried his hand at acting in the atrocious 1970 film adaptation of Gore Vidal’s novel Myra Breckinridge.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for payback
Noun
The government launched its online portal for processing refund requests on April 20, and importers have been rushing to file for paybacks ever since.
—
Kate Nishimura,
Footwear News,
15 June 2026
The intended insult was Dorit’s payback after Sutton spent the season mocking her costar’s wallet size.
—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
12 June 2026
This wasn’t just a World Cup quarter-final but payback for England’s win at that stage of the tournament in 1966 and revenge, as Maradona later wrote in his autobiography, for the Falklands War of four years earlier.
—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Reed’s victims relished a chance at payback when the writer tried his hand at acting in the atrocious 1970 film adaptation of Gore Vidal’s novel Myra Breckinridge.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for payback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for payback
Noun
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Short dramas tapped into these stories of time travel, revenge, and high fantasy — and translated the narrative patterns of web novels into video.
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The opposition views the initiative, proposed by Pastef, Sonko's party, as political revenge by the former prime minister, who retains significant influence over the parliamentary majority.
Noun
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Moscow says the strike was retaliation for Ukraine’s 40-day campaign on Russian oil refineries and supply lines, which has fueled shortages, hit Crimea and eroded battlefield momentum.
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Moscow launched massive drone and missile strikes on Kyiv, killing at least 17 people in retaliation against recent Ukrainian attacks that have buckled Russia’s economy.
Noun
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Members of white government clubs hassled their white neighbors into political lockstep and advertised physical and financial retribution for any Black person who dared to vote.
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The president has spent much of the year waging a war of retribution against Republicans who have crossed him.
Cite this Entry
“Payback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/payback. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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