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
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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
Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
And weekly unemployment claims rose sharply last week, a sign layoffs may be picking up.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
PC Magazine, 24 Aug. 2025
Saks Fulfillment Center in Rutherford County, 446 workers A Saks Fifth Avenue distribution center in La Vergne will permanently close this year and lay off 446 workers, a WARN notice said.
—Molly Davis, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for layoff
Noun
Additionally, the total number of unemployed individuals now outnumbers the number of job openings for the first time since April 2021, and surging layoffs have made finding and keeping a job an increasingly trying task.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
And weekly unemployment claims rose sharply last week, a sign layoffs may be picking up.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
Now, TikTok plans to lay off hundreds of content moderators in a fresh AI pivot.
—PC Magazine, 24 Aug. 2025
Saks Fulfillment Center in Rutherford County, 446 workers A Saks Fifth Avenue distribution center in La Vergne will permanently close this year and lay off 446 workers, a WARN notice said.
—Molly Davis, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for layoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoff
Noun
-
Bolsonaro hoped for a similar dismissal of legal proceedings against him and dreamed of winning back the presidency when Brazil held elections in 2026.—
Adriana Carranca,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
-
In a letter to staff at the embassy following his dismissal, Mandelson described his role as ambassador as the ‘privilege of my life,’ the BBC reported.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The best-selling fall and winter candles are made of a new wax blend that’s housed in the brand’s signature large jars with fresh packaging.—
Melody Kazel,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The first time our columnist walked into The Courier Journal building was sometime in 1967 for a winter fashion photo shoot.—
Ray Padilla,
The Courier-Journal,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Nothing better than putting down the top and driving beautiful roads just after the rain stops and the air is powerfully charged by the nearby ocean, scrubbed clean.—
Mark Ewing,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
In fact, water levels at Lake Powell, one of the main water storage reservoirs for the Colorado River Basin, could fall low enough to stop hydropower generation at the reservoir by December 2026, according to the NOAA report.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
After all, the President of the United States is a creature of corporate America, now leveraging his office to alter seemingly every aspect of business, through tariffs, firings (some driven by referrals from Pulte), appointments and novel legal theories.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
-
His firing of McEntarfer drew sharp rebuke from economists and some lawmakers.—
Erin Doherty,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
So while cells in a younger person (that were continuously exposed to estrogen prior to HRT) might benefit from a fresh influx of estrogen, ones that had a break from that estrogen bath might react negatively to it.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Midday daylight breaks help sustain energy, while dim, warmer light in the evening primes the mind for recovery.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Without any of the three, money once again ceases to circulate.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
After that, production would temporarily cease with operations idling until October 2025 in order to complete retooling work to prepare the facility for production of the 2026 model year.—
Jackie Charniga,
Freep.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Chapman weathered the pandemic without layoffs, furloughs or cuts to salaries and benefits, Struppa said.—
Hanna Kang,
Oc Register,
31 Aug. 2025
-
Late 2024 – Early 2025 – The airline cuts jobs, furloughs pilots, sells aircraft, and rejects a Frontier merger offer while trying to stabilize.—
Will McGough,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
On the plus side, accidents are less likely to happen when safety rules are clear, which cuts down on downtime and hospital costs.—
Edward Segal,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
For Coon, the downtime was especially welcome after years of nonstop work.—
Avalon Hester,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Layoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoff. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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