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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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
During his first term, Trump sought congressional approval to mandate similar layoffs. Nina Totenberg, NPR, 8 July 2025 Schumer requested that the Department of Commerce’s acting inspector general, Roderick Anderson, look into whether the layoffs affected the response time to the disaster. Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 8 July 2025
Verb
On Thursday, Indeed laid off roughly 1,300 employees at the company, as well as sister brand Glassdoor. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 11 July 2025 Ben Rice laid off a 3-2 slider that was well outside of the strike zone to walk and load the bases with two outs. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for layoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoff
Noun
  • The Justice Department’s dismissal of the charges comes as Moore started a 15-day trial earlier this week in Salt Lake City, Utah.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 12 July 2025
  • President Donald Trump’s potential dismissal of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is a major and underpriced risk that could trigger a selloff in the US dollar and Treasuries, a Deutsche Bank AG strategist said.
    Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • Adding a player with multiple years of control at a reasonable cost — both in terms of contract size and prospects given up — would improve the 2025 team while also reducing the free-agent needs this upcoming winter.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 11 July 2025
  • Their populations are higher following a warm winter, and their damage is most severe during hot, dry conditions.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • The toddler stopped crying about 15 minutes after she had been put down for a nap.
    Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
  • Such as when our yellow Lab Frank couldn’t stop wagging his tail while digging a hole.
    David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • Kennedy's firing and replacing the entire slate of advisers shifts the fundamental purpose of the group, says Schwartz.
    Pien Huang, NPR, 25 June 2025
  • The firings of immigration judges in February as part of the administration’s cost cutting DOGE program added to the backlog strain.
    Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • Elsewhere, a late summer to late spring schedule is the norm—though several European leagues require multi-week winter breaks to avoid the worst temperatures.
    Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 1 July 2025
  • But hosting a dinner party for your family-money-wealthy English boyfriend and his colleagues during a heatwave when the fridge breaks, alcohol flows, and an unexpected guest shows up?
    Literary Hub July 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • When the questioning ceased, committee Chair Rep. Doug Miller R-Elkhart, thanked the fruitful advocates for their time.
    Anna Cecil, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
  • Trump signed an order May 2 directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to cease funding NPR and PBS.
    Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • Mohammadi, who is serving a 13-year, 9-month sentence, was granted a medical furlough from the prison, where many of the country's dissidents and political prisoners are held.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2025
  • Many state workers remember when former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger instituted mandatory furloughs on several occasions.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Things got better for Deschanel from then on with the help of Hanson, who made sure to get her a bigger trailer for more privacy, and more downtime to work on lines.
    EW.com, EW.com, 12 July 2025
  • This kind of downtime is rare for both of them, and it’s really allowed their bond to deepen.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 11 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Layoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoff. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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