Definitions

pay off

VERB

benefit

Synonyms

STRONGEST

advance aid assist contribute to enhance favor further help improve pay promote serve

STRONG

advantage ameliorate avail better build profit relieve succor

WEAK

be good for do for one do the trick fill the bill make a killing make it work for

Antonyms

STRONGEST

decrease halt hinder hurt impede injure obstruct stop thwart

STRONG

worsen

WEAK

handicap harm

VERB

bribe

Synonyms

STRONGEST

buy off corrupt entice seduce tempt

STRONG

approach buy coax fix influence instigate lubricate lure pervert reward soap square suborn sugar tamper tip

WEAK

buy back do business get at get to grease palm make a deal oil palm sweeten the pot take care of

Antonyms

STRONG

leave alone straighten

VERB

buy off

Synonyms

STRONGEST

lubricate

WEAK

bribe do business get to grease palm influence make a deal sweeten the pot tamper

VERB

discharge

Synonyms

STRONGEST

pay in full settle

STRONG

clear disburse honor liquidate meet quit relieve satisfy

WEAK

pay up square up

Antonyms

WEAK

owe

VERB

grease

Synonyms

STRONG

corrupt entice fix influence tamper

WEAK

buy off oil someone's palm take care of

VERB

lay off

Synonyms

WEAK

discharge dismiss drop fire let go oust retire early

Antonyms

WEAK

employ hire

VERB

liquidate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

convert quit reimburse repay

STRONG

cash clear discharge exchange honor realize satisfy settle square

WEAK

cash in cash out sell off sell up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

remain stay take

STRONG

fail hold keep owe upset

WEAK

build construct create invest

VERB

pay

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bring in produce return

STRONG

sweeten

WEAK

be profitable be remunerative kick back make a return make money pay dividends pay out provide a living show gain show profit yield profit

Antonyms

WEAK

earn lose

VERB

profit

Synonyms

STRONGEST

contribute earn improve prosper take advantage of thrive

STRONG

aid avail benefit better clear exploit help pay promote realize recover score serve use utilize

WEAK

be of advantage capitalize on cash in on clean up learn from make a haul make a killing make capital make good use of make it big make money make the most of put to good use reap the benefit stand in good stead turn to advantage work for

Antonyms

STRONGEST

decline fail harm hurt lose

STRONG

block condemn deteriorate hinder injure obstruct worsen

VERB

redeem

Synonyms

STRONGEST

reclaim recoup regain repay restore win back

STRONG

cash change cover defray discharge exchange purchase ransom recapture reinstate repossess repurchase retrieve settle

WEAK

buy back buy off call in cash in get back make good replevin replevy take in trade in

Antonyms

STRONGEST

forfeit lose

STRONG

hold keep

WEAK

abandon disregard ignore

VERB

remunerate

Synonyms

STRONG

accord award grant indemnify pay post recompense redress reimburse repay requite vouchsafe

WEAK

ante up dish out do business guerdon pay up shell out spring for

Antonyms

STRONG

deny refuse take withhold

WEAK

charge seize

VERB

requite

Synonyms

STRONG

indemnify make pay quit reciprocate recompense redeem redress reimburse remunerate repay respond retaliate return revenge reward satisfy settle

WEAK

make amends make good restitution

Antonyms

STRONG

ask deny depart dissuade fail forgive leave lose pardon penalize refuse request seize sympathize take upset

WEAK

dissatisfy

VERB

return

Synonyms

STRONGEST

make pay score

STRONG

clear net repay yield

WEAK

bring in cash in on clean up make a killing pay dividend show profit

Antonyms

STRONGEST

fail lose

WEAK

ask depart keep leave request take

VERB

revenge

Synonyms

STRONGEST

avenge get back at vindicate

STRONG

defend fix get justify match punish reciprocate redress repay requite retort return score square

WEAK

be out for blood even the score fight back fix one's wagon get even give comeuppance hit back kick back make reprisal pay back pay back in spades return the compliment settle up settle with stick it to take an eye for an eye turn the tables on venge

Antonyms

STRONG

deny depart fail leave lose refuse request surrender take

WEAK

forgive pardon sympathize

VERB

satisfy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

meet reward

STRONG

answer atone disburse discharge indemnify liquidate quit recompense remunerate repay requite settle square

WEAK

clear up make good make reparation

Antonyms

STRONG

hold keep owe seize take

WEAK

anger disappoint discontent dissatisfy dissuade fail frustrate upset

VERB

work off

Synonyms

WEAK

repay

NOUN

payment

Synonyms

STRONGEST

amount award cash deposit disbursement fee outlay pension premium refund reimbursement remittance reparation repayment restitution return reward royalty salary settlement subsidy sum support wage

STRONG

acquittal advance alimony amends amortization annuity bounty defrayal defrayment discharge down hire indemnification part portion quittance reckoning recompense redress remuneration requital retaliation

WEAK

pay-off paying

Antonyms

STRONGEST

debt penalty

STRONG

whole

NOUN

discharge

Synonyms

STRONGEST

payment in full payoff settlement

STRONG

acquittal disbursement liquidation satisfaction

Antonyms

WEAK

indebtedness owing

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Three-month sales data published in April suggests the strategy is starting to pay off.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

By the time they pay off student loans in their 30s, they’ve lost the most critical compounding years for retirement savings.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

She knew it was a risk, but thought it could pay off and help her start her own business one day.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

Per Zimbalist’s research, that risk of hosting international games doesn’t usually pay off — especially in the long term.

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2026

The blankets must be covering what she's really transporting: documents, ration cards, maybe even a pile of money to pay off an inside man.

From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse

pay off

Example Sentences

Related Words