layoff 1 of 2

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

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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

lay off

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of layoff
Noun
The Trump administration appealed, but on Friday night, the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the sweeping layoffs will remain on hold. Jade Walker, CNN Money, 2 June 2025 Overall, the layoffs represented 2.8% of the total workforce. Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025
Verb
Win McNamee | Getty Images The Trump administration on Wednesday lost a bid to lift a federal judge’s order temporarily blocking the U.S. Education Department from laying off about half of its more than 4,000 employees. Dan Mangan, CNBC, 4 June 2025 The Silicon Valley giants have laid off tens of thousands in the past couple years. Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for layoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoff
Noun
  • Despite the low scoring, United fans would ideally like to give Amorim time to reshape the squad to his liking, rather than call for his immediate dismissal.
    Carl Anka, New York Times, 7 June 2025
  • His dismissal — and that of several other judges whom President Trump brought in in his first term in office — sparked immediate GOP outrage and claims of political interference.
    Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • Tyler Glasnow changed his delivery this winter, hoping to find health.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 June 2025
  • Beginning in winter 1865, with slavery outlawed, southern states enacted Black Codes.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • On September 2, Border Force officers had stopped two women at London Stansted Airport.
    Stuart James, New York Times, 6 June 2025
  • The filing amends an existing lawsuit against the Trump administration over the move to ban its ability to enroll international students, which initially prompted a judge to stop the administration from revoking Harvard’s student visa program.
    Andy Rose, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • The firings and slashed funding impacted organizations like Sacramento’s Improve Your Tomorrow, which mentors young men of color and prepares them for higher education and joining the workforce.
    Molly Gibbs, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025
  • Immigration advocates now say the Trump administration's hiring and firing decisions could threaten the crucial neutrality of the administrative courts.
    Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • Their subsequent conversation during his break suggests lasting affection on both sides.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025
  • Anderson’s Asteroid City set the best PSA opening record in some time almost exactly two years ago in June of 2023 with a wide break on the same number of screens, expanding to $9 million in a less competitive market.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 8 June 2025
Verb
  • Yet, for some time now, there has been a third movement that tends to be articulated more in art than elsewhere, even if elsewhere there has long since ceased to be any alternative.
    Diedrich Diederichsen, Artforum, 1 June 2025
  • The mayor also said that late-night establishments and all nightclubs must cease operations at midnight.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • An emergency motion for temporary furlough filed in federal court on Tuesday, June 10, and obtained by PEOPLE alleges that three officials with the Bureau of Prisons devised a plot to have Kelly killed by a fellow inmate.
    Chris Spargo, People.com, 11 June 2025
  • The mayor froze new spending in April and ordered city agencies to institute furloughs and freezes on hiring, overtime, and purchasing supplies.
    Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 10 June 2025
Noun
  • Update: According to the in-game timer at the end of the live-event, downtime will last 5.5 hours, meaning Season 3 will launch at 8pm ET / 5pm PT.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
  • Video calls have reduced the need for in-person meetings, and with flyers now able to answer emails or even join a virtual meeting in mid-air, in-air downtime is rapidly shrinking on subsonic flight.
    Edward Russell, CNN Money, 5 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Layoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoff. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.

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