layoff 1 of 2

1
as in dismissal
the termination of the employment of an employee or a work force often temporarily even senior employees lost their jobs in the massive layoff

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in winter
a period of often involuntary inactivity or idleness after such a long layoff the boxer badly needed to get back into shape

Synonyms & Similar Words

lay off

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of layoff
Noun
In fact, many successful freelancers started their journey after a layoff. Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025 In the last few years, labor market volatility and mass layoffs in industries like tech have additionally dropped many workers back into the job search unexpectedly. Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
Macy’s, which recently announced the closings of 66 stores (part of a three-year goal to close 150 retail locations) will be laying off hundreds of employees. Chris Westfall, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 Late Friday night, the Trump administration, as part of its push to modernize the government with software, laid off roughly 90 people from the General Services Administration—all federal technologists whose role was to modernize the government with software. Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for layoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoff
Noun
  • The intrigue: Rahn, a disabled U.S. Army veteran, worked as a civilian federal government employee for about five years before his dismissal, but was considered probationary because he'd been promoted from the Department of Defense to his role with CISA within the past year.
    Jessica Boehm, Axios, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Some people might say the same about Menke’s dismissal.
    Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • However, the Reds also reportedly discussed a trade for Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. earlier this winter.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
  • And unlike other offers Kim received this winter, his Dodgers deal doesn’t require his consent to be sent to the minors.
    Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Misinformation campaigns have increasingly targeted clean energy, pushing the idea that solar and wind are unreliable—a line taken up by Citizens for Responsible Solar, a group led by a conservative operative who works to stop solar projects on farmland and timberland.
    Kate Yoder, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2025
  • The Windsor Police Department said in a social media post that one of its deputies stopped a vehicle with two passengers in the 700 block of Shiloh Road at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.
    Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Many of those firings have prompted lawsuits parallel to Dellinger’s that challenge the legality of Trump bypassing language in statutes, including provisions that protect employees at independent agencies from politicized or arbitrary firings.
    Ashley Oliver, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Some economists dislike the report's methodology because actual layoffs and firings can be lower than announced totals as firms reduce their workforces through attrition or by closing open job postings.
    Rob Wile, NBC News, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Harden was purposeful with his play in going 14-for-24 from the field, six-for-13 from three-point range and 16-for-20 from the free-throw line for a Clippers team that has been in a tailspin since the All-Star break.
    Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Seeing its initial advantage on the boards evaporate, UConn went into the break trailing, 37-33.
    Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The program ended in the early 1960s after a member of the CIA Inspector General's staff learned of MKUltra's experiments and ordered them to cease all experimentation on non-consenting subjects.
    Jessica Sager, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025
  • On Thursday, the university, a historically Black institution, ordered the fraternity chapter to cease all activities and suspended pledging for all Greek organizations for the rest of the academic year.
    Neil Vigdor, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • If that’s not enough, Wayne Cascio says companies should attempt to reduce hours or initiate furloughs (a temporary unpaid leave of absence) rather than layoffs.
    Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The furloughs would apply to most state employees, except for critical positions such as state troopers and correctional facility staff.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Products such as Microsoft’s Factory Operations Agent are designed specifically for manufacturers to help track defective issues, downtime, or excess energy consumption.
    Gene Marks, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The only downtime or sad time that occurred was when Leonard's health started to fail.
    Esther Kang, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Layoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoff. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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