furlough 1 of 2

Definition of furloughnext
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

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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
With companies feeling the squeeze of high rates and weaker consumption, Russian data show unpaid wages nearly tripled in October from a year ago to more than $27 million, with the Post adding that furloughs and shorter workweeks are also becoming more common. Jason Ma, Fortune, 27 Dec. 2025 Of course, this year has thrown financial curveballs at many of us, from layoffs to government furloughs, to still-high prices. Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025
Verb
On the chopping block In the summer of 2025, Senior Community Service Employment Program grant recipients across the country began to furlough their staff. Cal J. Halvorsen, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025 Spirit’s cost-cutting efforts continued after emerging from bankruptcy protection in March, including plans to furlough about 270 pilots and downgrade some 140 captains to first officers in the coming months. Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for furlough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for furlough
Noun
  • Four Democratic-Farm-Labor Party lawmakers who chair state Senate education committees cited Minneapolis Public Schools canceling classes and extracurricular activities last week after federal agents reportedly clashed with students and staff during Roosevelt High School’s dismissal on Wednesday.
    Michael Loria, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Prosecutors noted that after receiving the money, the defendants filed loan forgiveness applications containing further inaccuracies, which led to the dismissal of some debt.
    Chase Jordan January 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Over the past few months my wife has begun drinking to excess every evening.
    Amy Dickinson, Anchorage Daily News, 17 July 2023
  • Over the past few months, my wife has begun drinking to excess every evening.
    Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 17 July 2023
Verb
  • I'mPhaedra Trethan, bummed out about the passing of Raul Malo, lead singer of The Mavericks.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 9 Dec. 2025
  • Headed to the mountains for the holidays and bummed about the slow progression of the snowpack?
    Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 4 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Tony Dungy, especially like Tony Dungy himself, to say that (expressing shock at John Harbaugh’s firing).
    Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
  • So the firings of Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and the Ravens’ Harbaugh have injected some juice into a Giants search that previously threatened to cast as wide and arbitrary a net as last year’s ridiculous Jets process.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • They are forced to take out high-interest loans, drain reserves, lay off staff or cut services, all while continuing to perform work they are contracted to deliver.
    Kristin Brown, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Ohio's Starbucks may shrink in the near future after the chain announced plans to close locations nationwide and lay off employees in retail and non-retail positions.
    Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Nov. 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
  • Councilman Gregg Adamson said the layoffs weren't his idea.
    Erika Stanish, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
  • The job market has been rough for both employers and professionals as widespread layoffs dominate headlines and professionals face intense competition for jobs.
    Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Dodge, still suffering the consequences of axing the popular previous generations of Charger and Challenger muscle cars, saw sales stumble down 28% compared with the previous year.
    Liam Rappleye, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Stellantis’ forays into EVs on this side of the pond have clearly not gone well, and with federal incentives and emissions targets being axed, the company has turned back hard into stuffing as many Hemis into vehicles that will fit them.
    Adam Ismail, The Drive, 7 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Furlough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/furlough. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.

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