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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Kara Young and Mallori Johnson are absolutely electric as twin sisters who set out to find the estranged, abusive father who abandoned them after leaving them and their mother horribly scarred in a fire.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026 -
This is the legacy Healy wanted to leave, a treasure that is too rich for Central Florida to abandon.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Hefty discontinued the onetime birthday-party staple in 2014, but brought the plates back in 2023 — and has also introduced disposable cups and plastic bags in the years since.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
20 May 2026
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Concordia discontinued its athletic program in 2025 and now only offers a handful of degrees, most of which are online.—
Jack Springgate,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Verb
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The thesis of Brady’s commencement, though, was battling through adversity and never quitting, and the best way for Brady to tell his motivational message was by telling the story of his Super Bowl LI comeback against the Atlanta Falcons.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
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These are intended to offer an appealing alternative smoking cessation product for adults who wish to quit.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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There are alternative diets for vegetarians (Green Local Hero) and double portions for athletes and those who do not want to drop pounds (Health Optimizer).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
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Chicago’s role in the breakthrough experiment wasn’t revealed publicly until after the first atomic bomb was dropped on Japan — nearly three years later.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
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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 23 May. 2026.
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