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
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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
-
Automating the routine layer of any job — the retrieval, the scheduling, the mechanical assembly — leaves behind work that requires judgment, creativity and autonomy.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 May 2026 -
Hair tinsel is also offered, and everyone leaves with a swag bag.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
And Evanston resident Jeff Boarini, who challenged Biss in the 2025 mayor election and lost, reaffirmed his intent to run for mayor if Biss resigns in time to spur a special election.—
Shun Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
1 June 2026
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Lieutenant governor If the sitting governor dies, resigns or is removed from office, then the lieutenant governor would assume the role.—
Times staff,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Hollywood has never been shy about plot twists, but nothing beats the real-life drama of two stars who call it quits only to circle back for another shot at forever.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
-
The on-again, off-again couple would call it quits once more two years later when Lopez filed for divorce in August 2024, which was finalized 20 weeks later.—
Grace Gavilanes,
PEOPLE,
6 June 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
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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
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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 13 Jun. 2026.
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