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
John Ruwitch, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026
According to reports, Andrews felt blindsided by the layoff but had felt increasingly underappreciated in her role.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 22 Mar. 2026
The Office of Personnel Management has just taken a sensible step to deal with the problem by proposing that federal agencies lay off their lowest performers first.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for layoff
Noun
The layoffs will take place on May 20 and affect some 8,000 workers.
—John Ruwitch, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026
According to reports, Andrews felt blindsided by the layoff but had felt increasingly underappreciated in her role.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
Content aggregator Digg, which was in beta ahead of its comeback, was recently forced to pause operations and lay off staff in response to the horde of bots on its platform.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 22 Mar. 2026
The Office of Personnel Management has just taken a sensible step to deal with the problem by proposing that federal agencies lay off their lowest performers first.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for layoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoff
Noun
-
The write-off trap There’s a specific kind of institutional damage that happens when hiring managers and leaders respond to the stare with dismissal rather than diagnosis.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel is speaking out as a wide-ranging review of the football program unfolds after Sherrone Moore's dismissal.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The verdant burst is always welcome after a dreary winter, and the bright, fresh flavors of spring vegetables are like a breath of fresh air on the table, too.—
Becky Krystal,
Washington Post,
20 Apr. 2026
-
There was significant public opposition at a hearing this winter where Parkers Place outlined its plan to level much of a 7-acre woodlands and build a complex with two-bedroom apartments.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On the mound for Monday’s 2-0 win, pitch count was the only thing that could stop Toma.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
-
If nerves come up, that’s part of the process, not a reason to stop.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The department has encountered legal challenges to the firings.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Also, to fill the gap created by the administration's own firings, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth authorized sending military lawyers (known as JAGs) to serve as temporary immigration judges for six-month rotations.—
Ted Koppel,
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After that, global income is fully taxable, a sharp break from the previous system that allowed wealth to remain offshore indefinitely.—
Emma Graham,Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The first day of New York City public school will be unusually late this fall, according to the official 2026-27 school year calendar released Tuesday — forcing families to scramble for child care at the end of summer break.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some galleries, including Sean Kelly and Tanya Bonakdar of New York, have closed their LA outposts or ceased mounting exhibitions there.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
At the time, University Heights, citing zoning laws, issued a cease-and-desist order blocking Grand from using his home for prayer.—
Grace Gilson,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Pilot and flight attendant unions had also made concessions, including going on furlough in recent months, in a bid to help Spirit survive.—
Leslie Josephs,Phil LeBeau,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
-
No layoffs or furloughs are planned and vendors will be paid.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The downtime means that Rodriguez’s innings would have been limited anyway, so starting him later in the season would fit into a conservative plan for his return.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The system supports 24/7 autonomous operation with minimal human intervention, achieving over 140 hours of cumulative continuous operation while maintaining downtime loss below 4 percent.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Layoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoff. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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