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
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1
as in excesses
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2
as in truants
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Recent Examples of furloughs
ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
The School Board is also discussing the possibility of furloughs, which could take effect earlier than June 30.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
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
Noun
The airline also instituted furloughs and job cuts before its first bankruptcy filing.
—ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
The School Board is also discussing the possibility of furloughs, which could take effect earlier than June 30.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for furloughs
Noun
-
Analysts believe the dismissals are meant both to reform and modernize the military and to ensure Communist Party control over the People's Liberation Army.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Another 84,000 cases ended in dismissals, but that outcome wasn’t reflected in their criminal history either.—
Jason Henry,
Daily News,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Since the mass firings began, former CDC worker and their supporters have protested every Tuesday during the afternoon rush hour outside the CDC's main entrance.—
Jess Mador,
NPR,
13 Mar. 2026
-
But the recent firings of the investigators and potential exposure to Iran has members of Congress worried.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The milestone comes amid staff layoffs, a federal shutdown, and administration directives to remove historical content from park displays.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
-
And several major tech companies have attributed mass layoffs to AI.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
13 Mar. 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
-
Colleen retires this month as the executive director and general counsel of the Freedom of Information Commission, hanging up her battle gear.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
-
It has also been used when a player retires at a young age without getting an unconditional release, but then returns to playing.—
Ed Guzman,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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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 14 Mar. 2026.
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