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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of layoff
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
1 July 2026
At the same time, May’s JOLTS data didn’t show a significant shift in layoffs or the number of people voluntarily quitting their jobs (an indicator that workers aren’t yet confident enough in the labor market to jump ship).
—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
Alex Amouyel,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
The cuts come as other major tech companies this year, including Meta, Block, Oracle and others, lay off thousands of workers.
—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for layoff
Noun
According to a new report, Xbox may not be the only unit facing layoffs.
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Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
1 July 2026
At the same time, May’s JOLTS data didn’t show a significant shift in layoffs or the number of people voluntarily quitting their jobs (an indicator that workers aren’t yet confident enough in the labor market to jump ship).
—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
Verb
Many owners spent decades building their companies and bristle at the idea of selling to traditional private equity or a bigger company that could restructure their business, lay off employees, and jeopardize their legacy.
—
Alex Amouyel,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
The cuts come as other major tech companies this year, including Meta, Block, Oracle and others, lay off thousands of workers.
—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for layoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoff
Noun
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The insensitive promotion was swiftly canceled, leading to the CEO's dismissal, a public apology, and mandatory history training for 24,000 employees.
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But the European Court of Justice dismissal on Thursday marks the end of that process.
Noun
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Last winter was the second-warmest on record, according to the city’s ordinance, with record low snowpack almost everywhere.
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As Norway has advanced in the World Cup, the atmosphere has grown more frenzied in the country than even during a summer or winter Olympics, Tufte said.
Verb
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When there was a pause in the action, referee Raphael Claus stopped the match to look at VAR to determine whether Balogun committed a foul worthy of a red card.
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Making new friends isn’t something that has to stop at a certain point in your life.
Noun
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Michael Reaves / Getty Images The decision to hire May fell in the lap of Mavericks president Masai Ujiri, who took over the team last month following the firing of former GM Nico Harrison in November.
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Johnson’s Office of Community Safety has seen major and sudden changes in recent months, particularly in Johnson’s sudden firing of Gatewood.
Noun
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Jude Bellingham and Elliot Anderson have been subbed off in the 73rd minute, just after the players returned from the hydration break.
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Summer schedules, school breaks and birthday parties all share one thing in common.
Verb
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Sony Interactive Entertainment, the largest video game company in the world by direct revenue, will reportedly cease production of physical discs for its formidable library of games for the PlayStation console.
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Founder David DeHaney, who set up the company in 2016, announced the decision to cease trading and appoint an administrator on Thursday.
Noun
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The city of Dallas announced Tuesday that General Fund employees will be required to take at least three furlough days to address the 2026 budget shortfall.
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According to the city, on the three dates, non-uniform employees funded by the city's general fund will be required to participate in the furlough, and the days will be recorded as leave without pay.
Noun
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And remember, not every moment of your child’s day needs to be booked up with an activity—there are benefits to downtime and even boredom.
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Its quick-release, tool-free battery system enables operators to swap batteries within seconds, minimizing downtime during industrial inspections, security patrols, and disaster response operations.
Cite this Entry
“Layoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoff. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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