LAYOFFS Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

layoffs

noun

plural of layoff

as in dismissals

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

as in winters

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

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 layoffs Unions say rising living costs, stagnant pay and looming layoffs are intensifying public anger and putting fresh pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s government. — Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026 The moves continue a long and far-reaching series of layoffs since CEO Robert Kyncl officially took the helm in January of 2023. — Jem Aswad, Variety, 5 Nov. 2026 Joyner, who will lead the new CVS Health company, took over as CEO in 2024 in the wake of layoffs, store closings and poor stock performance. — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026 The publication reports that many Microsoft employees are spooked, and that sources inside the company aren’t sure whether layoffs will follow. — Chris Hoffman, PC Magazine, 4 Nov. 2026 The department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) also showed that gross hiring — job gains before subtracting people who quit or lost jobs — rose and layoffs fell in September. — Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026 The number of Americans applying for unemployment claims dipped last week to 194,000 — the lowest since mid-July — as layoffs remain low and most Americans enjoy job security. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026 Budget cuts, layoffs, and bureaucratic red tape could all conspire to make your life more difficult. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026 Talk about more layoffs has percolated internally since a September 18 memo by Chief Legal and Global Affairs Officer Horacio Gutierrez. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoffs

Noun

Next year, if Democrats claim the majority in both chambers, the GOP can’t expect quick dismissals.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2026
But even with the dismissals, Live Nation is still calling a foul.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of dismissals

Noun

Designed in the nineteen-sixties to bring high-quality brewing to Scandinavian homes, the red, orange, yellow, and green machines are surely intended as an antidote to the monochromatic, dark Nordic winters.

— Nicholas Blechman, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2026
And continuing a pattern seen in previous years, Russian drones and missiles are already hitting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, but harder and earlier than in other winters, analysts say.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2026

Definition of winters

Noun

The midterm elections come amid the unpopular war in Iran — a topic close to home for many veterans, and one that has spurred an increase in gas prices — and firings and departures of military leaders under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

— Ryan Ottignon, Washington Post, 31 Oct. 2026
These firings are the latest chapter in a vast project of eliminating, ignoring, and replacing scientific advisory committees.

— C. Joseph Ross Daval, STAT, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of firings

Noun

These trends often materialize in batch changeovers, supplier changes, line downtimes and traceability challenges.

— Ihor Yurchenko, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
The average response time for phone calls dropped to 6 minutes from 30 minutes in the prior fiscal year; field office wait times decreased to 23 minutes; and removal of online service downtimes has benefited an additional 125,000 users in a single week, according to the agency's findings.

— Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025

Definition of downtimes

Noun

Cuts floated this summer, including layoffs, furloughs and a midyear spending freeze, may be back on the table.

— Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
Layoffs, unpaid staff furloughs and school closures probably are ahead as the leaders downsize operations.

— Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of furloughs

Noun

Wild Horse Nine lives or dies by the Mutt & Jeff chemistry of its leads, both of whom keep the proceedings propped up in between plot points and temporary pacing lulls.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2026
There are no lulls in the storytelling and all the actors are wonderful and hungry and bring the heat.

— Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of lulls

Browse Nearby Words

lay off (of)

layoffs

lay on

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“Layoffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoffs. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of layoffs

noun

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