1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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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4
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laying down
Verb
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Congress reacts in the summer of 1866 by enacting the Fourteenth Amendment in Congress.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026 -
Perhaps most remarkably, Missouri lawmakers have reserved gun regulations to themselves and severely restrain cities and counties from enacting stricter rules.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Storms are expected to continue on Thursday, with the CBS News Detroit NEXT Weather team declaring a Next Weather Alert Day.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
-
On May 26, 2026, the governor of Massachusetts celebrated his achievements by declaring that day Frantzdy Pierrot Day in the state.—
Laurent Dubois,
The Conversation,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Its Senate sponsor, Chicago Democrat Ram Villivalam, acknowledged more work was needed without specifying what stalled the bill.—
Jack O'Connor,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
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Calfee tandems are custom-built, with consumers specifying nearly all components, at an average price of $20k.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Loth promptly went out and took care of business, taking the lead early before briefly relinquishing it, then pulling away down the stretch.—
Frank Rajkowski,
Twin Cities,
6 June 2026
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Consumers are intrigued by convenience, but at the same time clearly uneasy about relinquishing control.—
Jacques Ledbetter,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Verb
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Johnson said Williams and his receivers are much better aligned on passing routes compared to the same stage of the offseason program last year.—
Matt Zahn,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
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Enzo Fernandez — Argentina/Chelsea Fernandez scored 15 goals from midfield for Chelsea last season, but his elite passing will be more valuable to an Argentina side which continues to orbit around Messi.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Asia-Pacific governments are increasingly asserting control over data produced by their citizens, businesses, and public bodies.—
Leonard Lim,
Fortune,
10 June 2026
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Beijing and Moscow are asserting themselves in the belief that America is on the decline.—
Missy Ryan,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
Verb
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That was the defining feature of the immediate aftermath of one of the most iconic basketball wins ever.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
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And edged to the north by the Great Lakes, is a now defining coastal culture with a history that drove industrial innovation, military security and trade.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Still, Lamont resists rendering a verdict.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
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Then Google came and changed the rules, rendering older SEO tactics obsolete.—
Kurt Allen,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Laying down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying%20down. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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