STEPPING DOWN Synonyms: 18 Similar and Opposite Words

stepping down

noun

as in retirement

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepping down

Noun

One of the founding Avengers, Clint has been in semi-retirement ever since.

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
If your company offers a 4% match dollar-for-dollar, that’s an extra $4,000 toward retirement.

— Brian Sloan, CNBC, 20 July 2026

Definition of retirement

Noun

Kevin De Bruyne’s departure in summer 2025, Bernardo Silva’s this off-season and questions over Rodri’s future mean City need to rebuild the most important part of their creaking winning machine.

— Cerys Jones, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Back on the calendar with presentations are Leonard, which has not yet announced a creative director following the departure of Georg Lux in December; Chinese label Didu, and fashion veteran Xuly Bët.

— Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 24 July 2026

Definition of departure

Noun

There have been other senior exec exits, with All3 COO Sara Geater and Group Director of Corporate Development Steven Brown leaving.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 21 July 2026
Spurs finished 17th in each of the past two seasons and, while Gordon and Isak leaving was frustrating, that was also understandable.

— David Ornstein, New York Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of leaving

Noun

Sunday is expected to be the busiest day at O'Hare Airport, with more than 300,000 passengers arriving or departing.

— Lauren Victory, CBS News, 1 July 2026
While Schmid fills the role of a high-end backup, Florida still needs to acquire a starting-caliber goaltender prior to the start of the season with both Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov departing.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026

Definition of departing

Noun

Stepping away from that life, even for a relatively small chunk in the grand scheme of things, isn’t an abdication of adulthood, but an investment in a life worth living.

— DJ Didonna, Time, 13 July 2026
Kelly framed Kobach’s decision to sign onto the consent decree request as an abdication of duty.

— Matthew Kelly Updated June 25, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026

Definition of abdication

Noun

Let passengers exit the train before boarding This rule isn’t unique to Japan, but blocking the door or pushing against the exiting crowd is considered extremely impolite.

— Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
According to research firm Kpler, only seven ships on Friday passed through the strait — five entering and two exiting.

— Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 2 June 2026

Definition of exiting

Noun

Protesters blame Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and demand his resignation, but the demonstrations have since expanded into a wider anger over government accountability, spreading to other cities.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
The resignation marks the second time this year Anson County has lost an elections director, leaving the office without permanent leadership as preparations continue for this fall’s elections.

— Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 25 July 2026

Definition of resignation

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“Stepping down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepping%20down. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of stepping down

noun

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