Paid off is a term used to describe a situation in which a debt has been fully settled. In this crossword, the solutions BRIBED (6 letters) and GAINFUL (7 letters) are related to this term. BRIBED means to give money or other valuable items in order to influence someone's opinion or behavior. GAINFUL means to be profitable or advantageous. Therefore, the solutions BRIBED and GAINFUL can be interpreted as ways of paying off a debt, either through bribery or through a profitable transaction.