pays off

verb

present tense third-person singular of pay off
1
as in pays
to give what is owed for I finally paid off the loan

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bribes
to influence someone with a bribe she paid off the security guard so that she could steal whatever she liked

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 pays off The operator model pays off when the delivery network is complex enough that the decisions being made inside it—or being made poorly, or not at all—are materially affecting cost and customer experience. — Nishith Rastogi, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 That's why saving money on some parts of your vacation without compromising on the overall quality of the trip definitely pays off. — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 21 July 2026 Upon approval, the new lender pays off your existing loan and then assumes the remaining balance. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 8 July 2026 Research suggests wildfire mitigation work pays off. — Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026 Sometimes that strategy pays off. — Claire Zillman, Fortune, 28 May 2026 Work with an agent who knows Charlotte Local expertise pays off in negotiation. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026 Furthermore, Sharpe spent six months learning how to tinkle the ivories, an impressive commitment which pays off during the pivotal piano battles and ensures a welcome absence of clumsy cutaways from fingers to face. — Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 8 May 2026 Until 2037 the effective rate will be closer to 28%, as the city pays off debts related to a separate, previous set of incentives. — Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pays off
  1. pays
  2. bribes
  3. pays up
  4. has
  5. meets
  6. buys
  7. seduces
Verb
  • For now, the aftermarket pays nominal registry fees to officially access the manufacturers’ secure gateways.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Streamex also pays yield on tokenized gold, and its chief executive Henry McPhie has spelled out where his comes from.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of pays
Verb
  • In one of the film’s most madcap and darkly comedic moments, Linda bribes her daughter with the promise of a pet hamster — who turns out to be a biter, desperate to escape its box.
    — Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025
Definition of bribes
Verb
  • By contrast, Social Security pays up to $62,172 a year in 2026.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 16 July 2026
  • Under current rules, each venue pays up to $15 million annually.
    — Christopher Damien, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Definition of pays up
Verb
  • The colony also has a population of New Zealand fur seals that laze around the rocks frequented by flocks of seabirds.
    — Todd Symons, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • This fight has all the makings of a Fight of the Year candidate.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of has
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Tony meets the Flagship chef again, this time on less hostile terms.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026
  • Utah prosecutors are turning up the heat on Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, arguing that the evidence against him easily meets the standard required to send the case to trial.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of meets
Verb
  • When a healthcare business buys in volume, suppliers offer substantial discounts, a discount that can be passed on to the patients.
    — Dr. Beh Chun Chuan, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Wall Street is buzzing about Bending Spoons , an Italian tech conglomerate that buys mature internet brands and cuts their expenses using artificial intelligence.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 27 July 2026
Definition of buys
Verb
  • In the video, then-23-year-old Gugino plays a young woman who, after her rock star boyfriend cheats on her with her best friend, seduces an artist painting her portrait.
    — Scott Huver, PEOPLE, 12 July 2026
  • With its winning trifecta of sandy beaches, boutique hotels, and unpretentious tavernas, the Greek island of Milos seduces couples, water lovers, and gastronomes alike.
    — Helen Iatrou, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2026
Definition of seduces

Browse Nearby Words

pays (for)
pays off
pays up
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Cite this Entry

“Pays off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pays%20off. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of pays off for Spanish Speakers

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