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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The three-block stretch, between 16th and 19th avenues, looks markedly different from just a year ago, when tents, abandoned cars and piles of trash crowded the street and sidewalks.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026 -
What to read next The USSR withdraws troops from the border with Afghanistan, as Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev abandons invasion plans to focus his resources on the Space Race.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At a legislative hearing on Tuesday, Blakespear told the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water that a three-year state initiative offering similar services was seeing positive results — until it was discontinued two years ago after funding ran dry.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
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Three decades ago, pole vaulting was discontinued in Baltimore City high school track and field.—
Empress Rasheem,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Nevertheless, Kayla refused to quit.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
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The town has been operating without a local government since January, when its entire Board of Trustees quit following years of bitter infighting and a violent scuffle that sent one of the trustees to the hospital, The Denver Post reported last month.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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One count directed at Baldwin, alleging assault, was dropped.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2026
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But Tampa Bay dropped Games 1 and 2 at home, putting it in a 2-0 hole, and was eliminated with a Game 5 loss in Tampa.—
Eduardo A. Encina,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Apr. 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 Apr. 2026.
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