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Synonyms for lays back
verb lessen, grow or cause to grow less

slow
slacken
ebb
wane
dwindle
recede
taper
subside

decrease
diminish
dull
decline
subdue
reduce
coast
quell

allay
moderate
cool
chill out
let up
taper off
unlax
cool it

go with the flow
hang easy
hang loose
lay back
let go
let it all hang out
mellow out
take it easy

Antonyms for lays back

increase
grow
enlarge
incite
amplify
enhance

intensify
prolong
revive
advance
forward
rise

raise
develop
expand
extend
win
magnify

Synonyms
verb make composed, quiet

mitigate
placate
appease
relax
assuage
relieve
steady
quiet

soothe
settle
alleviate
pacify
mollify
allay
cool
balm

tranquilize
soft-pedal
hush
stroke
compose
lull
sedate
becalm

still
quieten
cool it
cool out
lay back
simmer down
take it easy
take the edge off

Antonyms

incite
increase
intensify
worsen
worry
excite
anger

disquiet
distract
inflame
outrage
aggravate
irritate
agitate

upset
provoke
trouble
rouse
ruffle

Synonyms
verb calm, ease off

soothe
lullaby
subdue
wane
dwindle
hush
stroke
decrease
allay
still

compose
ebb
subside
becalm
moderate
balm
soft-pedal
quell
abate
fall

pacify
diminish
tranquilize
qualify
cool
slacken
quiet
settle
cease
temper

chill out
let up
cool off
die down
lay back
put a lid on
quiet down
take it easy
take the edge
take the sting out

Antonyms

arouse
incite
grow
increase
enlarge
intensify
excite
prolong

energize
start
raise
rise
develop
expand
extend
agitate

disturb
irritate
move
upset
win
aggravate
continue

Synonyms
verb make peaceful; appease

mitigate
placate
assuage
repress
soothe
quell
ameliorate
mollify
allay
tame
square

subdue
dulcify
soften
stroke
grease
lull
still
propitiate
compose
conciliate
calm

moderate
relieve
soft-pedal
qualify
tranquilize
cool
chasten
sweeten
quiet
temper
silence

con
bury the hatchet
butter up
fix up
smooth over
kiss and make up
lay back
make peace
pacificate
put the lid on
take the edge off

Antonyms

incite
intensify
worsen
worry
arouse

excite
anger
aggravate
irritate
agitate

upset
provoke
rouse
trouble

Synonyms
verb die down; let up

quit
slacken
acquiesce
relax
subside
soften
capitulate
comply
give in
forbear
slow
ebb

wane
ease
drop
yield
fold
melt
fall
moderate
weaken
cry uncle
come around
cave in

ease off
let go
give up
be merciful
cool it
die away
ease up on
give quarter
give some slack
give way
go along with
go easy on

have mercy
have pity
lay back
let it happen
lighten up
mellow out
say uncle
show mercy
change one’s mind

Antonyms

worry
grow
increase

ascend
continue
advance

rise
free
build

Synonyms
verb do little or nothing; loosen

abate
decrease
diminish
dodge
drop off
dwindle
ease
flag

goof off
idle
lax
lessen
let up
loose
moderate
neglect

reduce
relax
release
shirk
taper
tire
wane
goldbrick

untighten
ease off
featherbed
lay back
lie down on job
slack off
slow down

Antonyms

stiffen

tighten

Usage Notes

Lay1 and lie2 are often confused. Lay is most commonly a transitive verb and takes an object. Its forms are regular. If “place” or “put” can be substituted in a sentence, a form of lay is called for: Lay the folders on the desk. The mason is laying brick. She laid the baby in the crib. Lay also has many intransitive senses, among them “to lay eggs” (The hens have stopped laying), and it forms many phrasal verbs, such as lay off “to dismiss (from employment)” or “to stop annoying or teasing” and lay over “to make a stop.” Lie, with the overall senses “to be in a horizontal position, recline” and “to rest, remain, be situated, etc.,” is intransitive and takes no object. Its forms are irregular; its past tense form is identical with the present tense or infinitive form of lay: Lie down, children. Abandoned cars were lying along the road. The dog lay in the shade and watched the kittens play. The folders have lain on the desk since yesterday. In all but the most careful, formal speech, forms of lay are commonly heard in senses normally associated with lie. In edited written English such uses of lay are rare and are usually considered nonstandard: Lay down, children. The dog laid in the shade. Abandoned cars were laying along the road. The folders have laid on the desk since yesterday.