furlough 1 of 2

as in dismissal
the termination of the employment of an employee or a work force often temporarily the landscaping company usually has to put most of its personnel on furlough during the extremely slow winter months

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

furlough

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 furlough
Noun
Deal could get Chinese goods flowing into U.S. ports again Activity at U.S. ports has dwindled as a result of the tariffs, with shipments being canceled and workers being furloughed. Tobias Burns, The Hill, 12 May 2025 Local seniors employed through the Senior Community Service Employment Program have been furloughed as the initiative awaits congressional funding. Lila Hempel-Edgers july 8, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2025
Verb
The nonprofit has had to lay off, furlough or cut pay for about half of its staff of 15, Garcia said. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2025 At their previous meeting in May, the regents approved a resolution that allows presidents of individual campuses to implement furloughs and temporary salary reductions as part of their budget plans. Sam Gauntt, Baltimore Sun, 15 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for furlough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for furlough
Noun
  • Potter had just been appointed after Julen Lopetegui’s disruptive dismissal and West Ham did win at Manchester United and Ipswich Town in the last three games to bring some light to the season’s end.
    Michael Walker, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Its current trustees have expressed hope that the La Jolla Town Council can move on peacefully from its recent turmoil involving a series of executive actions, member dismissals, resignations and impassioned public comments.
    Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Over the past few months, my wife has begun drinking to excess every evening.
    Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 17 July 2023
  • Over the past few months my wife has begun drinking to excess every evening.
    Amy Dickinson, Anchorage Daily News, 17 July 2023
Verb
  • Sandler, because of that punim of his, is good at playing bummed, but this scene demanded more shading — anger, charm, cockiness.
    Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 30 July 2025
  • But, yeah, I was bummed to kind of put the team in that spot.
    Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 25 July 2025
Noun
  • This is why the enemies of cancel culture cannot help but compare the firing of Hollywood directors to witch hunts.
    Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Amid intensifying scrutiny over deteriorating employment figures, President Trump on Aug. 1 ordered the firing of Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of the BLS.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Two thirds of its 15 employees were laid off in May.
    Monica Hunter-Hart, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • About 110 people were laid off at Wondery as part of the reorganization, and CEO Jen Sargent is set to depart.
    Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The entire day felt dehumanizing, as if her nearly eight years with the company, her medical problems and her physical pain had been reduced to nothing more than malingering and scattered incidents of tardiness.
    Greg Jaffe, Anchorage Daily News, 18 June 2023
  • Goldstein, who did not return a message seeking comment, practices in Chicago and has lectured on the topic of malingering, according to a resume posted online.
    Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2023
Noun
  • The city is home to thousands of federal workers, and the mass layoffs under DOGE have already had a major impact on the city’s economy.
    Jill Colvin, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
  • These reforms may put additional strain on an already-buckling Department of Education, which was hit by mass layoffs earlier this spring that effectively cut the department’s workforce in half and likely has contributed to the existing backlogs.
    Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • It is hoped that motorists will leave their vehicles at home, avoid idling their engines or using drive-thru lanes, and instead use public transport or car shares to lessen the impact on the environment.
    Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 July 2025
  • The truck idled for three minutes, then four minutes, then five.
    Clare Sestanovich, New Yorker, 13 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Furlough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/furlough. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on furlough

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!