1
as in leaves
to give up (a job or office)
with the advent of his 90th birthday, he could no longer resist calls for him to step down from chairmanship of the board
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in resigns
to give up (as a position of authority) formally
even in the face of a palace revolt, Queen Elizabeth I refused to step down from the throne
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steps down (from)
Verb
-
The Board of Education said in a letter to families that members will identify an interim superintendent who can lead the district after Dorland leaves.—
Jessica Seaman,
Denver Post,
9 May 2026 -
When Gundula leaves for a few weeks, Hannes tends the geranium in her absence, with a dedication that proves enrapturing for him, even transformative.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
If the sitting governor dies, resigns or is removed from office, then the lieutenant governor would assume the role.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
The 25th Amendment provides detailed procedures on what happens if a president resigns, dies in office, has a temporary disability or is no longer fit for office.—
Kirsten Matoy Carlson,
The Conversation,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Could this be the anarchic mind that emerges when the ego relinquishes its hold?—
Michael Pollan,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
-
If a player chooses not to negotiate with the Panthers, that player will be unable to sign elsewhere, unless Carolina relinquishes his rights by not offering him a tender.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When the state abdicates its duty, the people must step in.—
William Morris,
Des Moines Register,
17 Mar. 2026
-
When the federal government abdicates its responsibility for public health, states, localities, and communities of experts can still try to fill the void.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The only smart move Spirit ever made was to call it quits after deciding the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
-
But in the end, higher jet fuel prices triggered by the Iran war drained cash from the business at an accelerating pace, forcing it to call it quits.—
Bernard Condon,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Steps down (from).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steps%20down%20%28from%29. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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