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Definitions

lay low

VERB
avoid
Synonyms
STRONGEST
avert bypass dodge escape evade fend off shun sidestep ward off
STRONG
abstain circumvent deflect desist ditch divert duck elude eschew flee hide jump obviate recoil shake shirk shy skip skirt weave withdraw
WEAK
circumlocute cold-shoulder fake out give the slip hold off keep clear run for cover shake and bake shake off shrink from shuffle off skip out on skip town stay away stay out steer clear of step aside turn aside
Antonyms
STRONGEST
face meet
STRONG
allow help permit stay take on
WEAK
seek want
VERB
bring down
Synonyms
WEAK
KO abase cut down damage drop fell floor injure knock down level lower mow down murder overthrow overturn prostrate pull down shoot down slay throw down tumble undermine upset wound
Antonyms
WEAK
aid encourage help raise
VERB
desolate
Synonyms
STRONG
depopulate desecrate despoil devastate devour pillage plunder ruin sack waste
WEAK
depredate lay waste spoliate
Antonyms
STRONG
build construct improve protect save
VERB
dispatch
Synonyms
STRONG
conclude devour discharge expedite perform settle
WEAK
dispose of eat up polish off scarf down
Antonyms
STRONG
halt stop unsettle
WEAK
hold hold back keep prohibit retain
VERB
evade
Synonyms
STRONGEST
avoid bypass circumvent conceal deceive dodge elude escape fend off flee get around hide sidestep
STRONG
baffle balk cavil confuse decline double duck equivocate eschew fence fly fudge hedge lie parry pretend prevaricate pussyfoot shift shirk shuck shuffle shun shy tergiversate trick waffle
WEAK
beat around bush beg the question cop out give the runaround keep distance lead on a merry chase pass up put off slip slip out sneak away steer clear of weasel
Antonyms
STRONGEST
confront disclose divulge encounter expose face lay bare let out meet open reveal show stay tell uncover
STRONG
accept aid be honest clear up enlighten explain help order organize release remain tell the truth
WEAK
take on
VERB
fell
Synonyms
STRONGEST
drop flatten raze shoot shoot down slash tumble
STRONG
cleave cut dash demolish down floor gash ground hack hew level mangle prostrate rive sever split sunder
WEAK
blow down bowl over bring down cause to fall cut down knock down knock over mow down pull down strike down throw down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
raise
STRONG
aid assist build combine construct help join unite
WEAK
erect
VERB
flatten
Synonyms
STRONGEST
crush raze smash straighten
STRONG
abrade compress debase deflate depress fell floor flush grade ground lay plane plaster prostrate roll smooth squash subdue trample
WEAK
beat down even out iron out knock down mow down spread out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
lose
STRONG
blow up erect expand incite increase lift raise uncompress
WEAK
break elevate make uneven round
VERB
floor
Synonyms
STRONG
baffle beat bewilder conquer defeat discomfit disconcert down drop dumbfound fell flatten ground level nonplus overthrow prostrate puzzle stump throw
WEAK
bowl over bring down bring up short knock down
Antonyms
STRONG
clarify clear up encourage enlighten explain explicate
VERB
level
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bulldoze devastate drop equalize fell flatten raze ruin wreck
STRONG
down floor ground mow smooth waste
WEAK
bring down knock down knock over pull down tear down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
build construct create raise
VERB
weasel
Synonyms
STRONG
balk dodge duck hedge renege shuck sidestep waffle
WEAK
beat around the bush circumvent cop out dance around an issue elude equivocate eschew flee get around give the runaround hem and haw pussyfoot put off shirk slip out sneak away tap dance worm one's way out of
Antonyms
STRONG
confront face meet

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The perception on campus is that McInnis has tried to lay low.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 10, 2025

Singer Burns, one of the traitors, told viewers she planned to "lay low" and go "under the radar", and it seems to be working so far.

From BBC • Oct. 10, 2025

Maybe, they hoped, this would all pass if they stayed quiet and lay low.

From Salon • Aug. 24, 2025

Marley performs the concert but jets off to London immediately thereafter, settling in to lay low and write his seminal album, “Exodus.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2024

We’d make a good pile and then lay low awhile, living it up.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey