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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of layoff
Solo Ceesay, Rolling Stone, 7 May 2026
Armstrong said the layoffs, which may affect about 700 employees, are partly due to a crypto downturn.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Nick Lentz, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for layoff
Noun
One major company’s latest layoffs disproportionately targeted employees with unvested stock options.
—Solo Ceesay, Rolling Stone, 7 May 2026
Armstrong said the layoffs, which may affect about 700 employees, are partly due to a crypto downturn.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Verb
Several railcars from a Canadian National Railway train lay off the tracks north of Warroad, Minnesota, after a train derailment on March 28, 2026.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for layoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoff
Noun
-
Fani, who remains an associate professor, claimed his dismissal followed pressure from pro-Israel groups.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
At the time of his death, the 53-year-old president was enmeshed in a constitutional crisis over his tenure, and his ruling by decree following his dismissal of the Parliament.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
In the winter cold, men climbed leafless trees to see the President-elect speak.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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In it, Suu Kyi said little beyond describing the changing seasons from her cell in Myanmar's capital, Naypyidaw – from the discomforts of the cold in winter, to the summer heat.—
Lorcan Lovett,
NPR,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Quin Snyder’s Towns wrinkle stalled the Knicks briefly, then stopped working.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The workers get ordered to start jobs, stop jobs, ignore jobs and are other things that turn them into ping pong balls, with the Butleys and the del Valles as the paddles.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Weltman’s first coaching change with Orlando was his firing of Frank Vogel in 2018 and hiring of Clifford, which took 48 days.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 May 2026
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Pressure from the administration In recent weeks, high-profile decisions in closely-watched, controversial immigration court cases appear to have led to the firing of immigration court judges, for instance, who seemingly ruled against the wishes of the current administration.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Steele is now unlikely to rejoin the Cubs’ rotation until after the July All-Star break, Counsell estimated.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Wagner led the team at the halfway mark with 17 points, scoring 10 points in the paint before the break.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Marco Bello | Reuters Spirit Airlines ceased operations early Saturday after the budget airline failed to get its bond investors behind a $500 million government bailout deal.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
-
The building became empty and available after a solar roof company exited the site, ceased operations, laid off all its South Bay workers and moved to Texas.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
Noun
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Sade is in prison and is staying with Mina while on a three-day furlough, which provides a neat framework for their reunion.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
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In December 2024, she had been granted a medical furlough from prison due to her ongoing poor health.—
Anastasia Tsioulcas,
NPR,
2 May 2026
Noun
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Meanwhile, the Hurricanes’ staff will use the time to find ways to exploit the Flyers while giving their players some downtime before the next task.—
Cory Lavalette,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
Nazem Kadri saw the Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5, but otherwise just enjoyed his first extended downtime in Denver for a while after returning to the Avs before the trade deadline.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Layoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoff. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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