Synonyms of layoff

layoff 1 of 2

noun

ˈlā-ˌȯf 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reemployment
• recall
• callback
• rehiring
• rehire

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

• winter
• break
• downtime
• lull
• time-out
• interruption
• suspension
• pause
• breath
• recess
• breather
• suspense
• abeyance
• latency
• dormancy
• doldrums
• quiescence

lay off

2 of 2

verb

as in to stop

to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end

you need to lay off eating those jelly doughnuts, or you'll end up looking like one

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stop
• cease
• end
• halt
• cut off
• shut off
• quit
• cut out
• leave off
• break off
• desist (from)
• have done with
• delay
• pack (up or in)
• break up
• knock off
• drop
• suspend
• discontinue
• can
• give over
• conclude
• finish
• break
• put the kibosh on
• close (down)
• check
• hold back
• complete
• turn back
• block
• clamp down
• pause
• rein (in)
• ruin
• stem
• hinder
• stay
• impede
• hold
• deactivate
• dam
• suppress
• obstruct
• detain
• blockade
• brake
• abort
• destroy
• stamp
• scuttle
• arrest
• call
• dissolve
• stunt
• squelch
• abolish
• squash
• kill
• demolish
• snuff
• annul
• kibosh
• stanch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• carry on
• continue
• run on
• keep up
• proceed
• advance
• progress
• follow through (with)
• drive
• stir
• propel
• actuate
• impel

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of layoff

Noun

Cost of living is rising, hiring has slowed to a worrying pace, and layoffs are on the rise. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026

The layoffs will also affect employees across Meta’s recruiting, sales, global operations and Facebook social teams. —Emily Lorsch, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026

Verb

Main Street Sports Group Main Street Sports Group, which owns FanDuel Sports Network, plans to close its Brookfield office on April 14 and lay off two workers. —Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 2 Mar. 2026

But what Flanagan’s campaign promotions about her board experience omit are the votes to slash budgets, lay off teachers, and close entire schools as the district struggled with declining enrollments, as well as costly scandals and a new headquarters that ballooned in cost to more than $40 million. —Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 19 Jan. 2026