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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
as in to stop
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
you need to lay off eating those jelly doughnuts, or you'll end up looking like one
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of layoff
Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
This month, layoffs at the Health and Human Services Department prompted the closure of roughly a half-dozen regional Head Start offices.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2025
Now the White House Is Expanding the Strategy In the Trump administration's early days, thousands of federal employees doing critical work—overseeing the U.S. nuclear stockpile, researching and working to prevent bird flu, overseeing food safety and more—were abruptly laid off before being rehired.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for layoff
Noun
Several months later, the former student lost his job in a round of layoffs.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
This month, layoffs at the Health and Human Services Department prompted the closure of roughly a half-dozen regional Head Start offices.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
In the past two months, the Trump administration has laid off thousands of workers at numerous agencies and paused trillions of dollars worth of federal grants.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2025
Now the White House Is Expanding the Strategy In the Trump administration's early days, thousands of federal employees doing critical work—overseeing the U.S. nuclear stockpile, researching and working to prevent bird flu, overseeing food safety and more—were abruptly laid off before being rehired.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for layoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoff
Noun
-
The controversial dismissal of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s corruption charges has also dealt the DOJ a reputational blow.—
Ashley Oliver,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
14 Mar. 2025
-
The defendants will answer Gastineau’s complaint and motion for its dismissal.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Sika believes the sand was unstable because of dredging that occurred during the winter.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Yes, the winter can be tough but the greenhouse movement has grown each and every year which helps.—
Liza B. Zimmerman,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
When the American money stopped flowing, the local soup kitchen closed and Ms. Musa went out searching for food.—
Declan Walsh,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
-
The confrontation stopped and restarted as the man appeared to try to get the knife away from Perez over the fence.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Ken Russell, who is also running for mayor, was one of the two remaining commissioners to vote against his firing.—
Tess Riski,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The two decisions represent a significant setback for the states, the unions and the civic organizations that had sued the government in an effort to block the summary firings of more than 24,000 federal workers.—
Andrea Hsu,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Since the All-Star break, Phoenix is 30th in halfcourt defense … by a wide margin.—
Shane Young,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The committee is not expected to vote on Isaacman’s confirmation until after lawmakers reconvene from a two-week break that ends April 28.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The cuts do not necessarily mean a program will cease to operate.—
Melody Schreiber,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Some ceased vaccination clinics, halted wastewater surveillance programs and even terminated a contract with the courier service that transports specimens to state labs to test for infectious diseases.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Then came a cost of living crisis fueled by the war in Ukraine and governments increasing taxes to cover the cost of furlough payments during the pandemic.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
-
There were already 400 UAW members on indefinite furlough in Kokomo even before Monday’s layoffs.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Therefore, respect your need for some privacy and downtime.—
Georgia Nicols,
The Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Imagine an oil rig that detects safety threats in real time, a factory that predicts downtime at a fraction of the cost, or a wind farm that maximizes output across every turbine.—
Amir Husain,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Layoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoff. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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