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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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
Other surveys, such as a layoffs report from outsourcing and placement services firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas, is sometimes instructive but far less robust than the BLS report. David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025 Chura-Smith said the layoffs were a separate budget decision that responded to challenging conditions across the nation's health care system. Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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 Intel also plans to lay off 15 percent of its workforce this year. Lauren Goode, Wired News, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for layoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoff
Noun
  • Wilcox challenged the dismissal.
    Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The hammer blow was last week's dismissal by the Constitutional Court of Thaksin's daughter and protege Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the sixth prime minister from or backed by the Shinawatra family to be removed by the military or judiciary.
    Panarat Thepgumpanat, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Wildfires are burning earlier and hotter out West, violent wind storms are snapping lines across the interior, and winter’s ice and snow aren’t far behind.
    Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Efforts to reduce spending in other areas have fallen flat, with a number of Labour Party lawmakers opposing cuts to welfare spending and winter fuel payments for pensioners.
    Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Fall weather isn't stopping the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) as its crews are set to begin a number of construction work across the state.
    Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Good Fortune follows Reeves as an angel, Gabriel, tasked by his boss, Martha (Sandra Oh), with stopping humans from dying while texting and driving.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 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
  • Overnight, crews will build hose lays along fire breaks and reinforce lines.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The Tigers have been plagued by poor starting pitching, a thin bullpen and an offense that hasn’t played with the same spark since the All-Star break.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • At the end of 2024, SHR ceased operations, paving the way for the rise of the Haas Factory Team.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
  • In turn, matchups between strong Group of 5 teams and hefty pocketbooks will cease to exist.
    Noah White, Miami Herald, 6 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
  • The winger spent time with family and took up new sports in golf and padel during his downtime.
    Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • General Motors' Spring Hill Assembly plant in Tennessee is planning several weeks of downtime in the coming months, according to a memo obtained by the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.
    Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Layoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoff. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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