Synonyms of furlough

furlough 1 of 2

noun

ˈfər-(ˌ)lō 

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

• dismissal
• firing
• layoff
• ax
• discharge
• redundancy
• shutdown
• sack
• closing
• boot
• downsizing
• pink slip
• bird
• bum's rush
• shakeout
• heave-ho
• shake-up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reemployment
• recall
• callback
• rehiring
• rehire

furlough

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to excess

Related Words

• excess
• lay off
• ax
• sack
• retire
• downsize
• pink-slip
• trim
• can
• dismiss
• terminate
• remove
• discharge
• release
• chuck (out)
• turn off
• muster out
• cashier
• fire
• boot (out)
• kick out
• bounce
• throw out
• unseat
• drum (out)
• separate

Dissimilar Words

• employ
• hire
• retain
• engage
• sign (up or on)
• take on
• keep
• contract
• rehire
• reemploy
• recruit
• subcontract

2

as in to bum

Related Words

• bum
• malinger
• idle
• truant
• goldbrick
• lazy
• goof (off)
• loaf
• hang (around or out)
• kick back
• lounge
• dawdle
• hack (around)
• hang about
• drone
• monkey
• veg out
• trifle
• mess
• hibernate
• dillydally
• fiddle (around)
• laze
• estivate
• chill
• rest
• footle
• kick around
• muck
• potter (around)
• loll
• piddle
• fool
• lag
• putter (around)
• linger
• dally
• doze
• loiter
• relax
• stroll
• play
• tarry
• saunter
• mosey
• amble
• feign
• swan
• poke
• deceive
• fake

Dissimilar Words

• work
• labor
• slave
• toil
• plow
• grind
• hustle
• plug
• sweat
• apply
• buckle (down)
• plod
• grub
• hump
• travail
• drudge
• peg
• put out
• exert
• moil

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of furlough

Noun

According to the city, on the three dates, non-uniform employees funded by the city's general fund will be required to participate in the furlough, and the days will be recorded as leave without pay. — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 30 June 2026

San Diego finalized new labor contracts for most city workers Tuesday that include 10% raises over three years, but the contracts soften the impact of those pay hikes on the city’s budget crisis by requiring unpaid furloughs. — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2026

Verb

One North Texas owner says she's already had to furlough a large portion of her staff. — Erin Jones, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026

Life has ground to a halt, with classes suspended at many schools, workers furloughed to save energy, and flights from some places canceled because Cuba doesn’t have enough jet fuel for long-haul flights. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026