Over-laying is the act of placing something on top of another material or surface. Its antonyms can be understood as opposite actions, such as removing or detaching. For example, unearthing, extracting, or dismantling can represent antonyms for over-laying. Other antonyms could relate to placing something underneath, such as sinking, embedding, or burying. These actions are opposite to over-laying, which adds a layer on top. Another set of antonyms could relate to undoing the effects of over-laying, such as smoothing out or scraping off. Overall, antonyms for over-laying represent actions that reverse, oppose, or counteract the act of adding a layer on top of something else.