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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Ohtani had reached base safely a World Series-record 11 consecutive times after walking in the first inning, but Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber struck him out in the third inning, ending the impressive streak.—
Wayne Sterling,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025 -
The birthing experience was a surprising, but happy ending to an easy pregnancy.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sabatini said that former President Ronald Reagan's doctrine included intervening on behalf of and supporting military governments with the intention of stopping the spread of communism.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Sabres goalie Alex Lyon had about as much chance of stopping the shot as an extra-large pepperoni and bacon stood of surviving a Friday night in the Kloke household.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But what was accomplished from the meeting remains unclear as Russia increased its aerial bombardment on Ukraine rather than ceasing military operations following the talks.—
Caitlin McFall,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
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And calling for a ceasefire means ceasing fire.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and environmental advocacy group the Friends of the Everglades filed an early lawsuit that resulted in halting the construction of Alligator Alcatraz, arguing that the facility harms the fragile ecosystem of the Everglades.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
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In January, Lau entered a Rule 11 agreement with Paxton, halting her from practicing.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Per the trailer, the duo decide that her hair must go and end up shaving it off — a drastic change that Stone embraced, cutting off her naturally blond locks for the role.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
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It was recently revealed that Andrew lied about cutting off his relationship with Epstein.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The plan discussed in committee would also create parameters for providers shutting off water service to residents.—
Arpan Lobo,
Freep.com,
29 Oct. 2025
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At one point, customers heard a rumor that SDG&E was shutting off electricity to the building — an alarming development that would have left the business’s freezers without power.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Once enough cars have sped over these fissures, chunks begin breaking off to create those infamous potholes that pop tires and ruin shocks.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
29 Oct. 2025
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Weiss made a career for herself as an op-ed staff editor at The New York Times before breaking off from the mainstream publication in 2020 and launching the Free Press.—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After cutting out the eyes from the latex mask and the entire face from the bunny mask, Barr combines the two to create something else entirely.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
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To look past the colonizing gaze of the footage, Zaven didn’t just rely on cutting out the shots of triumphant soldiers.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
23 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Laying off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying%20off. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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