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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of furloughs
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
According to the note, WGA never had furloughs or pay cuts in its 12-year history prior to the current grounding.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 26 Nov. 2025
In addition to staff furloughs and suspended or canceled programs, the 2018-2019 shutdown resulted in a loss of some $5 billion, according to the American Alliance of Museums.
—Elizabeth Blair, NPR, 13 Nov. 2025
Members of Congress remain on the payroll, a practice that has drawn criticism amid widespread furloughs.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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
According to the note, WGA never had furloughs or pay cuts in its 12-year history prior to the current grounding.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 26 Nov. 2025
In addition to staff furloughs and suspended or canceled programs, the 2018-2019 shutdown resulted in a loss of some $5 billion, according to the American Alliance of Museums.
—Elizabeth Blair, NPR, 13 Nov. 2025
Members of Congress remain on the payroll, a practice that has drawn criticism amid widespread furloughs.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for furloughs
Noun
-
The prior pattern of dismissals had depleted the credibility stock below the threshold where policy shifts alone could restore confidence.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Further dismissals will include 12 members of custodial staff, 16 lunch aides, a warehouseman, a safety and security monitor, a director of communications and a discipline secretary.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Do mass firings create an atmosphere of fear that impacts voting?—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
-
None of these coaches’ interviews, updates and hirings or firings happen in a vacuum.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There are other factors that contribute to layoffs aside from new technology, like overhiring, the state of the economy and a shift in corporate strategy.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The scope of the crisis more clearly entered the public eye in September 2023 — one month after CapRadio first announced its staff layoffs — when the California State University system released an audit that found widespread financial mismanagement by the nonprofit.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
-
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
-
This happens if a dog doesn’t make it through training to become a working dog or when the dog retires.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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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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
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Additionally, Zendaya's Rue Bennett sits in church pews, Schafer's Jules Vaughn kicks back in an art studio and Apatow's Lexi Howard appears to be in the same location as Demie's Perez.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
12 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Furloughs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/furloughs. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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