LAYING DOWN Synonyms: 143 Similar and Opposite Words

laying down

verb

present participle of lay down

as in enacting

to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action the city council promises to lay down new ordinances that will force dog walkers to clean up after their animals

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as in declaring

to state clearly and strongly at the risk of their popularity, the parents laid down the rules for the party and wouldn't accept any arguments

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as in specifying

to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly the supervisor laid down the procedure for a complaint of sexual harassment

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as in relinquishing

to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress commanded the surrounded troops to lay down their weapons

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for laying down

Verb

Now, communities are left scrambling to cut budgets and find new sources of revenues, such as enacting a local income tax.

— Jim Masters, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
In 2025, all 50 states saw proposals related to AI introduced, with 38 states enacting some sort of regulation, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

— Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of enacting

Verb

Newsom added, in apparent reference to the 25th Amendment, a constitutional provision that establishes procedures for presidential succession and for replacing or declaring a President unable to perform their duties.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 7 Oct. 2026
The data underscore concerns leaders expressed in September 2025 when declaring the city in fiscal distress.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of declaring

Verb

In September, her campaign criticized Tafoya’s sports stance without specifying how Flanagan would vote on federal restrictions.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Later chroniclers say he was first struck by an arrow—some specifying the eye—and then killed in close combat.

— Alicja Zelazko, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of specifying

Verb

And now, after its award-winning world premiere in the Next Wave competition at Fantastic Fest and a major screening at Zurich Film Festival, Schulman is slowly but surely relinquishing control.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
One panel was falling, then smashing on the path, lead relinquishing its long grip on the glass.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of relinquishing

Verb

The top tier of college football, known now as the Football Bowl Subdivision, resembles the professional game more with each passing year, prompting calls to implement rules to better manage the sport.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
His Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc trailed behind, also passing the second Red Bull and fully salvaging Ferrari’s day.

— Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of passing

Verb

Trump is accustomed to asserting the primacy of force over law and clearly anticipates no punishment for doing so in front of a body dedicated to saving humanity from the scourge of war.

— Anjali Dayal, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Prosecutors describe the drug trafficking and torture conspiracies as interconnected, asserting that proceeds from corruption and narcotics trafficking helped Maduro and Flores maintain the loyalty of officials who enforced their rule.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of asserting

Verb

Later still, we are introduced to Satoko Iijima (Ishida), who again shares many defining features with her two namesakes, albeit with just enough subtle differences to keep the audience on the back foot.

— James Marsh, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Every generation has had to master the defining tools of its era.

— Mary Moreland, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of defining

Verb

Faculty members started rendering aid to the student until first responders arrived and began life-saving measures, according to Palm Bay Police Deputy Chief Nicholas Szczepanski.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
Model Taylor Hill gravitated toward the Large Siena Bucket for its wearability and longevity, rendering it in a deep burgundy.

— Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of rendering

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.

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laying by

laying down

laying eyes on

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Laying down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying%20down. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of laying down

verb

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