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
Sean Garcia Leys, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
The furloughs were part of a slew of measures taken to try to help bridge the deficit gap.
—Brian Maass, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
That is why programs allowing supervised or monitored furloughs exist.
—Sean Garcia Leys, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
The furloughs were part of a slew of measures taken to try to help bridge the deficit gap.
—Brian Maass, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for furloughs
Noun
-
The Justice Department has appealed the Oregon, California and Michigan dismissals.—
Rebecca Boone,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Many of these dismissals were a result of the difference between what police need to arrest and what prosecutors need to prove guilt — which is a much higher burden, said DA spokesperson Mike Stolp.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The last of those engine firings is due to take place April 10, about five hours before the final push through Earth's atmosphere begins.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Many say these chiefs were doing exceptional work in the community to improve public safety, and believe their firings are a result of speaking out against the city manager.—
Gabriela Vidal,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Yuga Labs has gone through several rounds of layoffs, and is hardly the darling of the tech world anymore, which has moved on to AI startups.—
Harrison Jacobs,
ARTnews.com,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The publication was again paused in the fall due to the government shutdown and layoffs of MMWR staff, which were later reversed.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
10 Apr. 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
-
Roseville’s Northern California Dance Conservatory, at 920 Reserve Drive, Suite 110, will rebrand after owner Jen Bradford retires.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The average American actually retires at 62, according to two respected annual surveys, from the Employee Benefit Research Institute and the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Critical thinking really bums them out.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
That’s because if a patient can’t pay or an insurer kicks back a claim, a small practice in a rural area can be on the hook for tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.—
Caleb Hellerman,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Furloughs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/furloughs. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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