Synonyms of layoff

layoff 1 of 2

noun

ˈlā-ˌȯf 

1

as in dismissal

the termination of the employment of an employee or a work force often temporarily

even senior employees lost their jobs in the massive layoff

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dismissal
• firing
• furlough
• axe
• ax
• discharge
• redundancy
• downsizing
• shutdown
• closing
• sack
• boot
• pink slip
• shakeout
• heave-ho
• bird
• bum's rush
• shake-up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reemployment
• recall
• callback
• rehiring
• rehire

2

as in winter

a period of often involuntary inactivity or idleness

after such a long layoff the boxer badly needed to get back into shape

Synonyms & Similar Words

• winter
• break
• downtime
• lull
• time-out
• interruption
• suspension
• pause
• breath
• recess
• breather
• suspense
• abeyance
• latency
• dormancy
• doldrums
• quiescence

lay off

2 of 2

verb

as in to stop

to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end

you need to lay off eating those jelly doughnuts, or you'll end up looking like one

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stop
• cease
• end
• halt
• cut off
• shut off
• quit
• cut out
• leave off
• break off
• desist (from)
• have done with
• delay
• pack (up or in)
• break up
• knock off
• drop
• suspend
• discontinue
• can
• conclude
• give over
• finish
• break
• put the kibosh on
• close (down)
• check
• hold back
• complete
• turn back
• block
• clamp down
• pause
• rein (in)
• ruin
• stem
• stay
• hinder
• impede
• hold
• deactivate
• dam
• suppress
• obstruct
• detain
• blockade
• brake
• abort
• destroy
• stamp
• scuttle
• arrest
• call
• dissolve
• stunt
• squelch
• staunch
• abolish
• squash
• kill
• stanch
• demolish
• snuff
• annul
• kibosh

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• carry on
• continue
• run on
• keep up
• proceed
• advance
• progress
• follow through (with)
• drive
• stir
• propel
• actuate
• impel

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of layoff

Noun

Undeterred — and despite a three-year layoff — Cahill signed with the independent Gastonia Ghost Peppers in June. —Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025

Amazon's stores, communications, and devices and services divisions also got hit with layoffs earlier this year. —Samantha Subin, CNBC, 18 July 2025

Verb

On Thursday, Indeed laid off roughly 1,300 employees at the company, as well as sister brand Glassdoor. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 11 July 2025

Ben Rice laid off a 3-2 slider that was well outside of the strike zone to walk and load the bases with two outs. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 11 July 2025