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
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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
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025
But their payback for two improbable victories was a loss that had seemed highly unlikely.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2025
The Chargers must wait until Week 17 to get a chance to gain a payback for the Houston Texans’ 32-12 rout in an AFC wild-card game in January.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 14 May 2025
Handout | Getty Images News | Getty Images In comments at a town hall on the NewsNation network, Trump said the deal represents payback for the money the U.S. has spent so far on supporting Ukraine’s war effort.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for payback
Noun
But Spaun admitted his plans to give some payback to Hovland.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025
But their payback for two improbable victories was a loss that had seemed highly unlikely.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2025
The Chargers must wait until Week 17 to get a chance to gain a payback for the Houston Texans’ 32-12 rout in an AFC wild-card game in January.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 14 May 2025
Handout | Getty Images News | Getty Images In comments at a town hall on the NewsNation network, Trump said the deal represents payback for the money the U.S. has spent so far on supporting Ukraine’s war effort.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for payback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for payback
Noun
-
Agnes doesn’t process her experience the way a movie character might be expected to — with, say, revenge or sudden catharsis.—
Jake Coyle,
Boston Herald,
4 July 2025
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Texas 24, Ohio State 21 (Jan. 5, 2009): After Ohio State earned some revenge in 2006 with a 24-7 win that snapped UT's 21-game winning streak, the two schools met for a third time in a four-season span in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Noun
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Some, the retribution seekers, were eager to dish; those forced to appear via subpoena sat deadpan.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
3 July 2025
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In light of the settlements, critics have argued that news networks and tech companies are kowtowing to Trump in order to preserve access to the White House and protect against retribution.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Payback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/payback. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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