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
Relevance
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
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
Her husband was the only one to survive the latest round of layoffs.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 19 Jan. 2026
They are forced to take out high-interest loans, drain reserves, lay off staff or cut services, all while continuing to perform work they are contracted to deliver.
—Kristin Brown, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for layoff
Noun
Paramount anticipates at least $6 billion in cost savings from the deal and there’s serious angst in Hollywood that will mean heavy layoffs.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
Her husband was the only one to survive the latest round of layoffs.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
But what Flanagan’s campaign promotions about her board experience omit are the votes to slash budgets, lay off teachers, and close entire schools as the district struggled with declining enrollments, as well as costly scandals and a new headquarters that ballooned in cost to more than $40 million.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 19 Jan. 2026
They are forced to take out high-interest loans, drain reserves, lay off staff or cut services, all while continuing to perform work they are contracted to deliver.
—Kristin Brown, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for layoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoff
Noun
-
The federal court approved the dismissal under federal and state statutes, finding that federal law had frequently been used to interpret Illinois' Minimum Wage Law.—
Jenna Schweikert,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
But consistently responding to others’ progress with dismissal, denial, or defensiveness is usually a red flag, experts say.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Nobody paid much attention to weather forecasts because winter days were usually the same and, if different, just worse.—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The heat is not expected to significantly elevate the risk of wildfires because the county received significant rain this winter, says San Diego Gas & Electric.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Leave the resort to dine at Sunset Mona Lisa, a neighboring cliffside terrace where Mediterranean-leaning plates play second fiddle to the show-stopping tangerine-pink sunsets.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Pavel Zacha had both goals for Boston, and Jeremy Swayman stopped 28 shots.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Meanwhile, his company’s treatment of its essential workers, and the firing of Chris Smalls, an outspoken employee in a Staten Island warehouse, triggered the creation of the first Amazon union—a milestone in the recent surge of labor activism in America.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
-
By the end of March, Miller had become the new coach of Texas after the firing of Rodney Terry.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Set the scene The Cape sits on a bluff above Monuments Beach, the local surf break that draws board-toting regulars from dawn to dusk.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Mar. 2026
-
If tension rises, be willing to take breaks for water or snacks.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Commercial traffic through the maritime chokepoint has virtually ceased since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, with Iran vowing to strike any vessels associated with the two countries or their partners.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Classes will cease operating in June at the center.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The number of furlough days was determined by the employee's salary.—
Brian Maass,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
In February, the district voted to cut positions and add furlough days to further reduce its budget.—
Erick Trevino,
AZCentral.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Create public links or restrict access to specific users, and scale storage instantly with no downtime.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Don’t overschedule your trip — kids need some downtime, try to build in breaks.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Layoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoff. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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