as in cessations
the stopping of a process or activity
the factory resumed operation after a brief shutdown for repairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 shutdowns
The result, as is often the case with (increasingly frequent) government shutdowns, was a mixed bag.
—
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
In the fourth quarter last year, Wendy’s closed 28 units and the rest of the shutdowns are set to occur in the first half of this year.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
In the meantime, Jones is delivering food to officers who need it and trying to get employees who quit to return, despite the political showdowns that have led to government shutdowns.
—Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
Frequent operational shutdowns by BART during commute hours have inflamed the situation.
—Steve Glazer, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
While data breaches and hacks can trigger financial loss and chaos—from data-wiping to hospital shutdowns—the activities usually stop short of causing widespread loss of life or devastating physical destruction.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2026
Hundreds of millions of people, and entire industries, from the Persian Gulf to Asia, have been affected by industry shutdowns, rising food and heating costs stemming from higher energy prices, and fuel shortages.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Airline executives have railed against lawmakers in recent months, urging them to ensure that essential government workers like TSA officers are paid during shutdowns, which have become increasingly common.
—Dan Mangan,leslie Josephs, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
During government shutdowns, employees are not paid, including those deemed essential who are still required to report to work.
—Dallas Morning News, 24 Mar. 2026
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
In the fourth quarter last year, Wendy’s closed 28 units and the rest of the shutdowns are set to occur in the first half of this year.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
In the meantime, Jones is delivering food to officers who need it and trying to get employees who quit to return, despite the political showdowns that have led to government shutdowns.
—Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
Frequent operational shutdowns by BART during commute hours have inflamed the situation.
—Steve Glazer, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
While data breaches and hacks can trigger financial loss and chaos—from data-wiping to hospital shutdowns—the activities usually stop short of causing widespread loss of life or devastating physical destruction.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2026
Hundreds of millions of people, and entire industries, from the Persian Gulf to Asia, have been affected by industry shutdowns, rising food and heating costs stemming from higher energy prices, and fuel shortages.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Airline executives have railed against lawmakers in recent months, urging them to ensure that essential government workers like TSA officers are paid during shutdowns, which have become increasingly common.
—Dan Mangan,leslie Josephs, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
During government shutdowns, employees are not paid, including those deemed essential who are still required to report to work.
—Dallas Morning News, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shutdowns
Noun
-
Temporary cessations of hostility, but no permanent closing of the moral and social divide between debtor and creditor, and no giving up on the thought that some lives matter more than others.—
Henry Freedland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Former leaders warn that the loss of institutional knowledge, combined with halts to the incoming pipeline of public health workers, may lead to a long-term crisis.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Automotive industry analysts are forecasting that another microchip shortage could hit in the coming months, which could increase risks for production halts as costs skyrocket.—
Breana Noble,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As Quibi learned the hard way, accelerated timelines rarely produce Hollywood endings.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Neither requires action because the endings to their stories have already been written.—
Charlie Tyrell,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Drivers should expect long-term lane and ramp closures between Burleigh Street and Good Hope Road, along with some overnight work.—
Adrienne Davis,
jsonline.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
These stores will have some location closures for Easter, or are expected to be closed based on recent holiday closures.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Much of the work will take place between the two major closures, PennDOT said, adding that crews will keep a lane open in both directions, except for intermittent 15-minute stoppages.—
Ricky Sayer,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Given that a successful appeal would see the challenge retained, there could theoretically be a large amount of stoppages.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Yet the homage to Badinter proved strikingly uncontroversial, with politicians from opposite ends of the political spectrum striving to claim him as one of their own.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Wyatt’s record-setting season ends at 17-8-1.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shutdowns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shutdowns. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
