1
as in dismissals
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 winters
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of layoffs
The move, however, came after layoffs at HHS’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the whipsaw cancellation and restoration of $2 billion in funding for its programs in January.
—
Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
Still, the number was lower than the prior week’s, which is a signal that the pace of layoffs may be improving.
—Stan Choe, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
The most recent Department of Labor report showed unexpectedly strong job growth, even as tech and other companies have announced layoffs.
—Sharon Epperson,stephanie Dhue, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
While the layoffs are expected to be permanent, some employees will be allowed to transfer or work remotely.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
After a year characterized by mass layoffs, the federal government once again shed jobs, cutting 34,000 in January as some workers who accepted deferred resignation offers last year came off payrolls.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
The news division underwent a round of layoffs in October, with close to 100 staffers let go as part of Paramount-wide job reductions.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 12 Feb. 2026
The job market is off to a rough start this year, as new data on jobs and layoffs points to more job cuts and lackluster hiring plans.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 6 Feb. 2026
To be sure, the spike in layoffs isn't a sign of a broader economic malaise, Stettner emphasized.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
Still, the number was lower than the prior week’s, which is a signal that the pace of layoffs may be improving.
—Stan Choe, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
The most recent Department of Labor report showed unexpectedly strong job growth, even as tech and other companies have announced layoffs.
—Sharon Epperson,stephanie Dhue, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
While the layoffs are expected to be permanent, some employees will be allowed to transfer or work remotely.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
After a year characterized by mass layoffs, the federal government once again shed jobs, cutting 34,000 in January as some workers who accepted deferred resignation offers last year came off payrolls.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
The news division underwent a round of layoffs in October, with close to 100 staffers let go as part of Paramount-wide job reductions.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 12 Feb. 2026
The job market is off to a rough start this year, as new data on jobs and layoffs points to more job cuts and lackluster hiring plans.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 6 Feb. 2026
To be sure, the spike in layoffs isn't a sign of a broader economic malaise, Stettner emphasized.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoffs
Noun
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The result is a drama of surprising universality, in which a well-to-do couple becomes the target of unjust dismissals and persecution for political wrongthink against the Turkish regime.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The two dismissals this week come as both of those lawsuits had been set to go to trial in the next few weeks.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The last few winters in the Northeast were pretty un-winterlike.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Colorado winters are full of skiing and snowboarding.—
Sara Hansen,
Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Some who follow the Make America Healthy Again movement praised his decision, but former health officials and some medical experts worried the firings would sow distrust in the public health system and in vaccines that have been found to be safe and effective.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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All told, the agency lost more than 17,000 civil servants through firings and resignations in 2025—including many scientific leaders at the FDA, CDC and NIH.—
Dan Vergano,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The average response time for phone calls dropped to 6 minutes from 30 minutes in the prior fiscal year; field office wait times decreased to 23 minutes; and removal of online service downtimes has benefited an additional 125,000 users in a single week, according to the agency's findings.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Stephanie Ryder At the University of Washington, a top public university for biomedical research that relies on NIH money, administrators last year implemented a hiring freeze, travel restrictions and furloughs.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
4 Feb. 2026
-
But the memo said that 18,946 of the department’s 27,206 direct hire American employees are exempted from potential furloughs if the shutdown continues.—
Meg Kinnard,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Every squad is going to go through lulls in the conference schedule, other than perhaps UCLA.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
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The offense suffered some lulls in his absence, but second-year wide receiver Ryan Flournoy was able to pick up the production vacated by Lamb in the second half by finishing with 115 yards and one touchdown on nine receptions.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Dec. 2025
Noun
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John Merryman Redondo Beach As the NBA season breaks for All-Star weekend, there is one player who is single-handedly leading his fractured team to victory after victory, with his great scoring, passing and stout defense.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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When workers asked politicians in Miami-Dade County for a measure that would ensure basic protections like water and breaks, it was derailed by construction and agriculture lobbyists.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Layoffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoffs. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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