as in abandoning
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 laying off (of)
Verb
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So much so that by June 1870, Rillet filed a trademark injunction with the New York Supreme Court, trying to stop a competitor who had borrowed the name while abandoning the process.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026 -
At the same time, resilience isn’t about abandoning them to fend for themselves, either—instead parents should strive to strike a balance between the two extremes.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Parents,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Research published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found that while GLP-1s produce substantial initial weight loss, many people regain weight after discontinuing treatment.—
Tara Comonte,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
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The company is discontinuing its frozen products, which include orange juice and lemonade, the Coca-Cola Company, which owns Minute Maid, confirmed in a statement to USA TODAY.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Barely two months after nearly quitting — her husband, former bobsledder Nic Taylor, flew to Norway after those texts to talk her out of it — Meyers Taylor won the women’s monobob gold medal at the Milan Cortina Games.—
Tim Reynolds,
Denver Post,
17 Feb. 2026
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Schaffrick has quite a story — turning pro at 14 before growing disillusioned with the sport at 21, quitting to become a plumber.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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What is clear is that Oklahoma has become a central player in a national strategy that treats detention not as a means of ensuring public safety, but as an end in itself, a system designed to pressure immigrants into giving up their legal claims and leaving the country voluntarily.—
Ben Fenwick,
Oklahoma Watch,
13 Feb. 2026
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And as the number of pets goes up, many people wind up giving up their animal, overcrowding shelters.—
Margret Grebowicz,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Others on the roster are known for their high-flying dunks, jaw-dropping ball-handling or seemingly limitless range.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
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And figure skater Ilia Malinin continued redefining the sport, performing a jaw-dropping backflip.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Laying off (of).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying%20off%20%28of%29. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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