STEPPING ASIDE Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

step aside (from)

verb

Definition of step aside (from)

as in to leave

to give up (a job or office) a newscaster who knew when it was time to step aside from the anchor desk and let a younger person take over

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to resign

to give up (as a position of authority) formally the prime minister was compelled to step aside from his office when it was demonstrated that he had violated the public trust

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for step aside (from)

Verb

First, the power goes out, leaving Bret wandering the halls as lights flicker around him.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
Top Gear has not been on air since 2022, but a return was always likely, given the BBC Studios franchise is too big to leave in the garage.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of leave

Verb

The Stones somehow didn’t hit South America until 1995, a couple years after Wyman quit the band.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
Bannerman centers on the eponymous Paul Bannerman, a lethal covert operative who convinces a group of the world’s most deadly assassins to quit the spy game for a chance to lead normal lives in the suburbs of Connecticut.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of quit

Verb

Goss voluntarily relinquished his Missouri law license and surrendered his right to practice law in Kansas.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026
During her tenure, Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava relinquished their titles; Voigt had accused Rose of a toxic workplace culture.

— Michael Schneider, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of relinquish

Verb

Wasserman Schultz’s decision to abdicate her former District, 25, which was split into five, and run in the adjacent deep-blue district, angered Black Democrats and frustrated party leadership.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026
Akihito, who abdicated in 2019, tried to bring what was seen as an aloof monarchy closer to the people, an example followed by his son, Naruhito, and his family.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of abdicate

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Browse Nearby Words

step (along)

step aside (from)

stepbrother

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“Step aside (from).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step%20aside%20%28from%29. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of step aside (from)

verb

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