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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laying off
Verb
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Fresh from a marathon trip to Pakistan that failed to reach a deal for ending the war with Iran, Vice President JD Vance jetted to this Georgia college town for a campus tour organized by the conservative powerhouse Turning Point USA.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026 -
The administration says ending Tehran's nuclear program is one of its key goals in the war with Iran.—
Tucker Reals,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Meghan, 44, and Harry, 41, skipped a traditional airport photo op, instead departing in a convoy of vehicles without stopping to pose for the press.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2026
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But with the brief resurgence of the run game, the run-stopping, athletic inside linebacker is a bit more crucial.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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With the conflict still ongoing and the Central cluster continuing to lose members, the question now is whether the larger group can survive at all — or whether this lopsided war will end with one side simply ceasing to exist.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
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Iran also says that ceasing hostilities in Lebanon, where Israel has dramatically stepped up attacks in recent weeks, will be part of larger peace negotiations.—
Will Weissert,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The September 2025 order cleared the way for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to resume broad sweeps in Los Angeles, halting a lower court ruling that restricted ICE's practices.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Aldermen are set to vote today on halting planned tipped worker wage bumps set to eliminate Chicago’s subminimum wage in 2028.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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If this is the case, then cutting off the water supply to this waterfall — to fill a dam or for irrigation, which happens — could harm the fish.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
5 Apr. 2026
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Retail connections faded as foot traffic disappeared, cutting off communication with buyers.—
J.M. Banks
March 21,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Companies could also consider shutting off access to their technology for certain time frames, Rae suggests.—
Kristin Stoller,
Fortune,
24 Mar. 2026
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If someone becomes trapped by suction, shutting off the pump can release the pressure immediately.—
Meghan Schiller,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Suggestions include breaking off from Meta entirely and offering a similar oversight service to other social platforms.—
Jon Martindale,
PC Magazine,
3 Apr. 2026
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Throughout the series, the couple navigated major life changes, including Lily’s brief move to San Francisco after breaking off her engagement with Marshall, plus arguments about their respective careers.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Fans of peptides are increasingly cutting out the middleman and ordering directly from gray-market suppliers.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Viking has ranked as the #1 operator of river and ocean cruises for five straight years, has a 54% repeat guest rate, and more than 50% of bookings are made directly with Viking, cutting out the travel agents (and the costs that come with them).—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Laying off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying%20off. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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