LAYING OFF Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

laying off

verb

present participle of lay off

as in ending

to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end you need to lay off eating those jelly doughnuts, or you'll end up looking like one

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for laying off

Verb

Michael Busch followed with a strikeout on a pitch-clock violation for calling time a second time in the at-bat, then Alex Bregman hit into an inning-ending double play on the next pitch.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Cheap cliffhanger ending aside, the rest of the episode proves an emotionally satisfying kickoff for the final stretch of the season, laying Joe’s only shot at redemption, both mortally and spiritually, at the feet of her team.

— Andy Andersen, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of ending

Verb

There is really no way to talk about the film unless one falls back on wispy vagaries and pointed allusions to cinematic precedents, or just explaining the act one set-up and then stopping with the warning that things get really weird thereafter.

— Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Plain water can help remove waste from the blood into the urine, stopping kidney stones from forming.

— Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of stopping

Verb

Either the Chiefs or Broncos have won the division for the past 16 seasons, with Denver halting Kansas City’s nine-year streak of division championships last year.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2026
The space agency resumed observations with the telescope late last month after halting them early this year to conserve power.

— Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of halting

Verb

However, for many observers, including those in the UK, the moon will set shortly after maximum eclipse, cutting off the later stages of the partial phase.

— Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Notable New polling for the IMEU Policy Project, conducted by YouGov, suggests that cutting off military aid to Israel is a popular position in the six states that will vote first in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of cutting off

Verb

Dunleavy said the conditions did not meet the company’s internal standards for shutting off the lines.

— Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Always prioritize safety by checking for electrical hazards and shutting off power to the affected area if needed.

— Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of shutting off

Verb

Experts believe Wednesday's mudslides and flash flooding across Nepal and China's Tibet region were caused by a large chunk of ice breaking off a glacier and falling into the Lhende Khola River.

— Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The AccuWeather team will be looking for smaller storm cells breaking off of the main line, which would give them freedom to begin rotating and potentially spin off a tornado funnel.

— Karl Hille, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of breaking off

Verb

The gym where Abuja resident Ahmed Umar works installed solar panels, and switched its hours to operate in the early morning and late evening, cutting out the hottest part of the day to save on air conditioning.

— Light Oriye Tamunotonye, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Sep. 2026
That means making choices that support fertility, not hinder it — like getting regular exercise or cutting out cannabis, nicotine and alcohol.

— Andee Tagle, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of cutting out

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 off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying%20off. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of laying off

verb

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