Definitions

pay back

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exchange v.
fix v.
get back at v.
make restitution v.
pay v.
refund v.
render v.
repay v.
repay v.
restitute v.
retaliate v.
return v.
revenge v.

VERB

exchange

Synonyms

STRONGEST

swap

STRONG

alternate bandy bargain barter castle change commute correspond displace flip-flop interchange invert market network rearrange reciprocate replace reverse revise seesaw shift shuffle shuttle substitute switch traffic transact transfer transpose truck

WEAK

buy and sell cash in change hands contact with convert into deal in give and take go over to hook up horse-trade link up pass to return the compliment swap horses turn the tables

Antonyms

STRONG

continue deny hold keep leave alone refuse remain

VERB

fix

Synonyms

STRONGEST

get

STRONG

hurt punish

WEAK

cook someone's goose get even get revenge take retribution

Antonyms

STRONGEST

forgive let bygones be bygones overlook

WEAK

aid assist break help

VERB

get back at

Synonyms

WEAK

be avenged get even retaliate revenge take vengeance

VERB

make restitution

Synonyms

WEAK

atone compensate make good indemnify pay damages recompense refund reimburse repay square

VERB

pay

Synonyms

STRONGEST

repay

STRONG

punish reciprocate recompense requite retaliate square

WEAK

avenge oneself get even make up for pay one's dues settle a score square things

Antonyms

STRONG

refuse

WEAK

earn lose

VERB

refund

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adjust compensate recoup redeem reimburse relinquish remit repay

STRONG

balance indemnify recompense redress remunerate restore reward settle

WEAK

give back honor a claim make amends make good make repayment make up for

Antonyms

STRONGEST

deprive forfeit hold keep lose penalize take

VERB

render

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deliver distribute give provide restore

STRONG

cede exchange furnish impart minister pay present relinquish repay return show submit supply surrender swap tender trade yield

WEAK

give back give up hand over make available make restitution part with turn over

Antonyms

STRONGEST

hold keep take withhold

STRONG

conceal deny fight hide leave alone refuse seize veto win

WEAK

cloud confuse fail obscure remove suppress

VERB

repay

Synonyms

STRONG

avenge reciprocate requite retaliate return revenge

WEAK

even the score get back at get revenge make reprisal return the compliment settle the score square accounts

Antonyms

STRONG

forgive pardon refuse sympathize

WEAK

deprive extort leave alone penalize seize steal take

VERB

repay

Synonyms

STRONGEST

compensate offset refund reimburse restore reward

STRONG

accord award balance indemnify rebate recompense remunerate requite return square

WEAK

make amends make restitution make up for pay dues settle up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

damage penalize

STRONG

disagree refuse take withhold

WEAK

deprive extort leave alone seize steal

VERB

restitute

Synonyms

STRONG

adjust balance compensate indemnify recompense recoup redeem redress reimburse relinquish remit remunerate repay restore reward settle

WEAK

give back honor a claim make amends make good make repayment make up for

Antonyms

STRONG

confuse damage deprive forfeit hold keep lose penalize seize take upset worsen

VERB

retaliate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

reciprocate

STRONG

get pay recompense repay requite retrospect return revenge revive settle

WEAK

even the score exact retribution get back at make reprisal return the compliment square accounts strike back take an eye for an eye take revenge turn the tables on turn upon wreak vengeance

Antonyms

STRONG

depart leave lose take

WEAK

forgive pardon sympathize

VERB

return

Synonyms

STRONGEST

give replace restore send

STRONG

bestow convey react rebate reciprocate recompense reestablish refund reimburse reinstate remit render repay requite reseat restitute retaliate transmit

WEAK

carry back hand back make restitution put back reinsert roll back take back thrust back toss back

Antonyms

STRONG

deprive hold keep refuse take

WEAK

ask depart leave pay request

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 in spades pay off 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

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.

See Examples For:

pay back

Investors scrambled to cash out investments after a fund manager popular among everyday investors said it lacked the money to pay back clients.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Legal scholars have debated whether surrogates should pay legal damages if they fail to honor a contractual abortion provision, surrender payments remaining on the contract, or even pay back money they already received.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

Also, what happens if a founder can’t pay back the loan in 10 years?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

“He not only lost his ability to practice law but also must pay back the stolen money and serve time in prison as well,” Hochman said in a news release.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

We got home from California to learn that the publisher had canceled his contract, sending word through his literary agent that Barack was now on the hook to pay back his $40,000 advance.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

pay back

Example Sentences

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