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
• ax
• discharge
• redundancy
• downsizing
• closing
• sack
• shutdown
• 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
• give over
• conclude
• finish
• break
• put the kibosh on
• close (down)
• check
• hold back
• complete
• turn back
• block
• clamp down
• pause
• rein (in)
• ruin
• stem
• hinder
• stay
• impede
• hold
• deactivate
• dam
• suppress
• obstruct
• detain
• blockade
• brake
• abort
• destroy
• stamp
• scuttle
• arrest
• call
• dissolve
• stunt
• squelch
• abolish
• squash
• kill
• demolish
• snuff
• annul
• kibosh
• stanch

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

This marks the highest number of January layoffs since the 2009 recession, with the transportation, technology, and healthcare sectors taking the hardest hits. —La'tasha Givens, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026

To a chorus of boos, San Diego Unified School District’s board of trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to cut more than 200 classified jobs, in a move expected to lead to layoffs for about 70 people. —Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026

Verb

But what Flanagan’s campaign promotions about her board experience omit are the votes to slash budgets, lay off teachers, and close entire schools as the district struggled with declining enrollments, as well as costly scandals and a new headquarters that ballooned in cost to more than $40 million. —Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 19 Jan. 2026

They are forced to take out high-interest loans, drain reserves, lay off staff or cut services, all while continuing to perform work they are contracted to deliver. —Kristin Brown, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026