LAID OFF Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

laid off

verb

past tense of lay off

as in stopped

to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end you need to lay off eating those jelly doughnuts, or you'll end up looking like one

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for laid off

Verb

As referees stopped Charlie Adams’ corner kick to separate a pair of players in the box, Adams whispered for Barea to come closer.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 4 Oct. 2026
The Cougars were stopped at the UCF 3 on consecutive drives before Overmyer fumbled at the UCF 7 and into the end zone, recovered by the Knights.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of stopped

Verb

Over the course of Next Gen NYC’s season, which ended this past week, the model Ava Dash grabs a slice of pizza on Fulton Street; strolls through the Seaport; and calls her father, the hip-hop mogul Damon Dash, from a bench at Pier 17.

— Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 29 Sep. 2026
But the optics changed for James — a four-time NBA champion who has won titles with three different teams — once the Knicks ended their drought without needing his help.

— Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of ended

Verb

For carpenters, delays and poor weather conditions can disrupt the working hours apprentices need to complete their program, causing some to quit.

— Itzel Franco, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Elfe quit her job in luxury retail and enrolled in a teacher assistant certification program at the center in 2022, before continuing her education in its apprenticeship program.

— Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of quit

Verb

The instruments were shut off for months to reduce power use and keep Swift from sinking.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
For now, the company is limited to just 15 minutes of operation in space before the chips have to be shut off to cool back down.

— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of shut off

Verb

On second down, wide receiver Malik Washington broke off a 30-yard reception after safety Alohi Gilman missed a tackle.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026
While awaiting trial in a Riverside County jail, Morales stabbed another inmate so hard that the tip of the knife broke off in the victim’s body, according to the appellate decision.

— Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of broke off

Verb

Right-hander Randy Vásquez and infielder Sung-Mun Song were left off.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
Aaron Judge desperately tried to return for the postseason after straining his calf, but the New York Yankees captain was wisely left off the Wild Card series roster.

— Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of left off

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

laid into

laid off

laid off (of)

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“Laid off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laid%20off. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of laid off

verb

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