as in to abandon
to stop doing (something) permanently
we warned him to lay off of the cigarette smoking
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay off (of)
Verb
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As well as finding comfort on arrival, Smith is determined that those who move on do not feel abandoned.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025 -
The novel can get busy—Taylor introduces each of Wyeth’s studio mates in the first chapter, then all but abandons half of them to squeeze in more significant characters—but there’s a warmth in the overcrowding.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Automakers have slowed rollouts of new products and made news by putting a stop to future offerings, such as when Ram announced in September that Ram it would discontinue development of an all-electric pickup truck, initially called the Ram 1500 REV.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
15 Oct. 2025
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Soon afterward, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration informed the university that funding for its Maine Sea Grant program, which supports coastal communities, had been discontinued.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Staff at The Free Press are eager to start working with CBS News; reporter Olivia Reingold appeared on CBS News Friday morning to discuss her report that anonymous NYPD officers had been threatening to quit the force if Zohran Mamdani is elected New York City mayor.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
13 Oct. 2025
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Apparently, many workers crash out and quit on the third Wednesday at the job.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Harvard sociologist and Assistant Professor of Public Policy Liz McKenna said that in the past, movements of this scale have succeeded in influencing social change, but that their efficacy has dropped significantly since the turn of the century.—
NPR,
NPR,
18 Oct. 2025
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San Diego could overtake with a win and Vancouver loss, but the expansion side could also drop as low as fourth, with Minnesota and LAFC able to rise as high as second.—
Tom Bogert,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Lay off (of).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20off%20%28of%29. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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