as in dismissals
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
1
as in excesses
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in truants
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 furloughs
Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Stephanie Ryder At the University of Washington, a top public university for biomedical research that relies on NIH money, administrators last year implemented a hiring freeze, travel restrictions and furloughs.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 4 Feb. 2026
But the memo said that 18,946 of the department’s 27,206 direct hire American employees are exempted from potential furloughs if the shutdown continues.
—Meg Kinnard, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Russian data show unpaid wages nearly tripled in October from a year ago to more than $27 million, with furloughs and shorter workweeks becoming more common.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 18 Jan. 2026
The dip in business resulted in widespread layoffs and furloughs in many sectors, such as lodging and hospitality.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 8 Jan. 2026
Federal lawmakers are trying to avoid another closure that would lead to furloughs of thousands of federal workers and a pause in some government operations.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2026
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
Over her nearly two decades in the civil service, Walls noted the state has taken various measures to reduce payroll costs, including furloughs and restructuring retirement benefits.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Noun
But other parts of the department, including the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office and significant parts of the cybersecurity and election-infrastructure offices, face furloughs, according to a person briefed on the plans.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Stephanie Ryder At the University of Washington, a top public university for biomedical research that relies on NIH money, administrators last year implemented a hiring freeze, travel restrictions and furloughs.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 4 Feb. 2026
But the memo said that 18,946 of the department’s 27,206 direct hire American employees are exempted from potential furloughs if the shutdown continues.
—Meg Kinnard, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Russian data show unpaid wages nearly tripled in October from a year ago to more than $27 million, with furloughs and shorter workweeks becoming more common.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 18 Jan. 2026
The dip in business resulted in widespread layoffs and furloughs in many sectors, such as lodging and hospitality.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 8 Jan. 2026
Federal lawmakers are trying to avoid another closure that would lead to furloughs of thousands of federal workers and a pause in some government operations.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2026
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
Over her nearly two decades in the civil service, Walls noted the state has taken various measures to reduce payroll costs, including furloughs and restructuring retirement benefits.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for furloughs
Noun
-
Court records show the office has been operating in crisis mode, bringing in prosecutors from other states, asking judges to delay hearings, and trying to make some cases go away through dismissals and plea agreements.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Stalcup said of the dismissals.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Some of that information isn’t available to the public — firings and other disciplinary actions by employers, for instance, are confidential.—
Amber Gaudet
Updated February 20,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The Supreme Court ruling comes despite a series of short-term wins on the court’s emergency docket that have allowed Trump to push ahead with extraordinary flexes of executive power on issues ranging from high-profile firings to major federal funding cuts.—
Lindsay Whitehurst,
Fortune,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Outside Washington, the classical music industry suffers the usual ups and downs, shocks and bumps, with layoffs at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and a reduced season ahead.—
Philip Kennicott,
Washington Post,
20 Feb. 2026
-
In late 2024 and early 2025, following Nissan’s financial downturn that resulted in more than 9,000 global layoffs and a 20% reduction in manufacturing throughput, Nissan entered into merger negotiations with its Japanese industry counterpart.—
Stuart Dyos,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The movie follows Lee Byung-hun (Squid Game) as Yoo Man-su, a man who is fired from his job at a paper manufacturing company after an American company buys out his company and downsizes.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
His loving, pragmatic wife, Mi-ri (Son Ye-jin), gamely downsizes their middle-class life to fit their new reality — but her resoluteness only exacerbates his despair.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The passed by Republicans last month axes the credits for projects that don’t begin producing electricity by 2028.—
Rachel Frazin,
The Hill,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Dunleavy, now the general manager of the Golden State Warriors, is trying to figure out a way to acquire Antetokounmpo, now in his 13th NBA season, and pair him with superstar Stephen Curry for one more push at an NBA championship before Curry retires.—
Nick Friedell,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Golden State’s future picks could be extra attractive to Milwaukee if the Bucks expect the Warriors to fall off when Curry, who turns 38 in March, eventually retires.—
Michael Nowels,
Mercury News,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Then Jason and Thor shower together, each lathering the other’s back and bums up with fewer orgasms than an old Herbal Essences commercial.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The cranky and irritating backseat driver, who bums a lift midway through the Griswolds' adventure, also has with her the easily excitable pooch Dinky.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Kutsenko, 31, steps outside into the freezing night, switches on a large rectangular generator and the power kicks back in.—
Kamila Hrabchuk,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
After a very chilly start to the day, with many spots in North Texas dipping into the 20s during the morning, our southerly flow kicks back in, which will lead to a steady warming trend over the next several days.—
McKenna King,
CBS News,
15 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Furloughs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/furloughs. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
