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.

If Social Security and any other income cover basic living expenses, then they can lay low for a little bit while they work on their dream space.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 8, 2026

"I thought I would lay low for a while and seek new employment once the situation calms," said Musa Hashimi, who worked as a machinist in a textile factory.

From Barron's • Jul. 3, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 10, 2025

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

From Salon • Aug. 24, 2025

Uncle Duke saw Monkeyman in the barbershop and told him to lay low for a while.

From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers

lay low

Example Sentences

Related Words