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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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

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
The Trump administration appealed, but on Friday night, the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the sweeping layoffs will remain on hold. Jade Walker, CNN Money, 2 June 2025 Overall, the layoffs represented 2.8% of the total workforce. Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025
Verb
After watching colleagues laid off, there’s even a trend of worried executives and managers putting plans in place to slowly transition into entrepreneurship. Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025 The Substack site Vota created the day after he was laid off, called Career Pivot, helps his former USAID colleagues update their resumes and actively search for new jobs. Terry Collins, USA Today, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for layoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoff
Noun
  • Secretary Kristi Noem welcomed the dismissal of a lawsuit against the department for sending migrants to Guantánamo Bay.
    Filip Timotija, The Hill, 23 May 2025
  • Despite widespread doubt following the dismissal of Malone, the Nuggets, led by the Adelman and his staff, exceeded expectations.
    Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • When Optima Lakeview was in development during the pandemic, Burnham said the company looked for ways to make the outdoor amenities available year-round, even during the cold winter months.
    Caleb McCullough, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
  • Just keep in mind that the summers are hot, and winters can bring snow and ice.
    Anne Roderique-Jones, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • The chase reportedly ended when Buckley wrecked near the intersection of Watts and McAlister streets, an area of mostly forest about 1 1/2 miles southeast of where Buckley was first stopped.
    Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 25 May 2025
  • The former analyst ends up becoming a critical new addition to the gang in their mission to stop the Entity from destroying the world.
    EW.com, EW.com, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • While many of these agreements have been deeply flawed and exploitive, the firing of Shira Perlmutter represents a pivot to something much worse.
    Sarah Montana, HollywoodReporter, 29 May 2025
  • Since the firings, the agency has published two brief reports based on the 2023 survey – one on use of marijuana by people 12 years and older and one about the treatments received by adults with serious mental illness.
    Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • Even taking a short break to breathe, reflect or laugh with a colleague can restore perspective.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • The Face the Nation preview was aired during the show, not during an advertising break.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Yet, for some time now, there has been a third movement that tends to be articulated more in art than elsewhere, even if elsewhere there has long since ceased to be any alternative.
    Diedrich Diederichsen, Artforum, 1 June 2025
  • Once retired, income mainly ceases and so does the ability to add funding to retirement accounts.
    David Kudla, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • Hiring freezes, furloughs and layoffs may seem dramatic for a city that only a few short years ago had 16% fiscal reserves, but taking action today will forestall more dramatic cuts should the economy take a turn for the worse.
    The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 23 May 2025
  • Layoffs, furloughs and a declining business outlook may reduce household income.
    Catherine Brock, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • The couple have been enjoying downtime and travel since the Chiefs lost to the Eagles in Super Bowl 2025 in February.
    Natasha Dye, People.com, 26 May 2025
  • For your downtime Going out Beaches: Here are California’s dirtiest beaches.
    Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Layoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoff. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

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