as in abandoning
to stop doing (something) permanently
we warned him to lay off of the cigarette smoking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laying off (of)
Verb
-
Iran has said abandoning its enrichment rights is nonnegotiable.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
11 June 2026 -
The move suggests a broader shift in Tehran, where a new generation of leaders is increasingly abandoning the cautious, reactive approach that long defined the Islamic Republic’s strategy towards its adversaries.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
In some cases, patients who no longer wish to take the medication because of inconvenience or side effects can slowly taper off, eventually discontinuing medication altogether.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
10 June 2026
-
Personal care products like dental floss, diapers, menstrual products, moisturizer and makeup are also potential sources of PFAS exposure, though some companies are discontinuing the use of those chemicals in their products.—
Mara Hoplamazian,
NPR,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The mean probability of voluntarily quitting one’s job increased to the highest level in more than three years.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
-
According to the American College of Cardiology, first-line strategies for managing high blood pressure include quitting smoking, eating a heart-healthy diet, and increasing physical activity.—
Fran Kritz,
Verywell Health,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
No shortcuts, no giving up - just more studying and even more determination.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
11 Dec. 2025
-
But instead of giving up on her, Celine offers Rumi love and support.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
Start by dropping one to three drops of your bronzing product onto the back of your hand.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
11 Dec. 2025
-
Favre’s in-laws filled their tags that same day — his brother-in-law, Josh, shot a jaw-dropping buck that scored well enough to make the book.—
John B. Snow,
Outdoor Life,
11 Dec. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Laying off (of).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying%20off%20%28of%29. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
