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
Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 5 Feb. 2026
That could be a signal that the pace of layoffs is accelerating.
—Stan Choe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
The company has been forced to jack up prices and lay off workers.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for layoff
Noun
Without the money, a DPI spokesman said the department would need to consider layoffs.
—Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 5 Feb. 2026
That could be a signal that the pace of layoffs is accelerating.
—Stan Choe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
In her conversations with small-business owners, Higgins learned that some have been forced to reduce staff or lay off employees because several of their workers were TPS beneficiaries or were in the process of regularizing their paperwork.
—Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
The company has been forced to jack up prices and lay off workers.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for layoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoff
Noun
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Several Maryland school systems announced early dismissals Friday as forecasters warned of worsening weather conditions later in the day.—
Todd Karpovich,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Feb. 2026
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That includes an unusual dismissal deal Garza reached last year with Austin police officer Karl Krycia.—
Austin Sanders,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Japan is considered one of Asia’s top snow sports destinations due to its powder snow, which attracts a large number of foreign tourists each winter.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Groundhog Day is rooted in the Christian holiday Candlemas, the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But that didn’t stop her, and a few days later Waller was able to make contact with Huntington-Whiteley through another fashion influencer on Instagram – and the designer coat was successfully acquired.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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The officers provided first aid and attempted to stop the bleeding following the shooting, according to the agency.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The board’s firing of then-Superintendent Marie Feagins just months into her tenure led to White and Taylor filing takeover legislation last year.—
Bri Hatch,
Chalkbeat,
26 Jan. 2026
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His hiring comes less than two weeks after Herbert fell to 0-3 in the playoffs following a 16-3 AFC wild-card loss to the New England Patriots, resulting in offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s firing.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The speech marked a decisive break from his reformist persona and aligned him publicly with the regime’s violent crackdown on demonstrators.—
Nic Robertson,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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Teams loved the break from the grind — being able to play and collaborate with friends in the culinary community — which grew stronger as a result.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cardozo added that all milking operations have ceased, and some beef and non-lactating dairy cattle are still grazing.—
Richard Halstead,
Mercury News,
26 Jan. 2026
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Désirée Zamorano Writer and educator Désirée Zamorano recalls the intensity of the time surrounding the Eaton fire last year, bookended by political stress, which hasn’t ceased.—
Erica Zora Wrightson,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Stephanie Ryder At the University of Washington, a top public university for biomedical research that relies on NIH money, administrators last year implemented a hiring freeze, travel restrictions and furloughs.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
4 Feb. 2026
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But the memo said that 18,946 of the department’s 27,206 direct hire American employees are exempted from potential furloughs if the shutdown continues.—
Meg Kinnard,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The nature of emergency medicine involves moving quickly and efficiently from patient to patient, often with little-to-no breaks or no emotional downtime.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
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The Cancer moon invites you to sink into restorative downtime to recharge your batteries.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Layoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoff. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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