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
Bob Guccione Jr., SPIN, 11 Feb. 2025
Go deeper: Behind the Curtain: The payback precedent Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
—Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025
Any time Green scored, whether by blowing past Cunningham or not, the Pistons guard raced down the floor for immediate payback — hyping his bench after tough baskets.
—Kelly Iko, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Trump is ousting people across the bureaucracy and not hiding his motivation — payback.
—Axios, 2 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for payback
Noun
He’s also been incarcerated in isolation for a significant portion of his time, mostly as payback for publicly humiliating the Ohio Department of Corrections.
—Bob Guccione Jr., SPIN, 11 Feb. 2025
Go deeper: Behind the Curtain: The payback precedent Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
—Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025
Any time Green scored, whether by blowing past Cunningham or not, the Pistons guard raced down the floor for immediate payback — hyping his bench after tough baskets.
—Kelly Iko, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Trump is ousting people across the bureaucracy and not hiding his motivation — payback.
—Axios, 2 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for payback
Cite this Entry
“Payback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/payback. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.
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