Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

layoff

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of layoff

1 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 of layoff

ax (or axe), discharge, dismissal, furlough, redundancy [chiefly British]
Words Related to layoff

pink slip

bird [chiefly British], boot, bum's rush, downsizing, firing, heave-ho, sack

closing, shutdown

shakeout, shake-up
Near Antonyms of layoff

callback, recall, reemployment, rehire, rehiring

2 a period of often involuntary inactivity or idleness

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

downtime, time-out, winter
Words Related to layoff

break, breath, breather, interruption, lull, pause, recess

abeyance, doldrums, dormancy, latency, quiescence, suspense, suspension

lay off

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of lay off

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

  • you need to lay off eating those jelly doughnuts, or youʼll end up looking like one
Synonyms of lay off

break, break off, break up, can [slang], cease, cut off, cut out, desist (from), discontinue, drop, end, give over, halt, knock off, leave off, pack (up or in), quit, shut off, stop
Words Related to lay off

complete, conclude, finish

close (down)

deactivate

block, blockade, dam, delay, detain, hinder, hold, hold back, impede, kibosh, obstruct, stem

call, suspend

arrest, brake, check, clamp down, rein (in), squash, squelch, stamp, stanch (or staunch), stunt, suppress, turn back

pause, stay, suspend

abolish, abort, annul, demolish, destroy, dissolve, kill, ruin, scuttle, snuff
Phrases Synonymous with lay off

have done with, put the kibosh on
Near Antonyms of lay off

carry on, continue, follow through (with), keep up, run on

advance, proceed, progress

actuate, drive, impel, propel, stir

Learn More about layoff

  1. See words that rhyme with layoff Dictionary: Definition of layoff Spanish Central: Translation of layoff Nglish: Translation of layoff for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of layoff for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up layoff? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

tchotchke

a knickknack or trinket

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. nebulous Lip reading, Brexit, and semantic uncertainty

  2. synergy Mueller files Cohen details.

  3. slumgullion From the broadcast of 'It Happened on Fifth Avenue'

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games