layoffs

noun

plural of layoff
1
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
2
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
  1. dismissals
  2. winters
  3. firings
  4. downtimes
  5. furloughs
  6. lulls
  7. breaks
Noun
  • The dismissals at the USPSTF follow a Supreme Court decision in 2025 stating that the secretary of HHS can remove members at will.
    — C. Joseph Ross Daval, STAT, 30 Oct. 2026
  • All five students sought to appeal their dismissals but say that the university blocked access to their education records, which the students allege is a violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
    — Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of dismissals
Noun
  • The brutal cold of Sweden’s winters is well documented, but Stockholm has a knack for bringing some special magic even to its gloomiest season.
    — Isabelle Kliger, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2026
  • But colder winters and shorter days can definitely affect the performance of the battery and the solar panels.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 2 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
  • Layoffs, unpaid staff furloughs and school closures probably are ahead as the leaders downsize operations.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Pilots, flight attendants and other aviation workers faced pay cuts and furloughs from the decrease in flyers.
    — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of furloughs
Noun
  • 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
  • Dull spells and lulls will crop up, building like waves, peaking, crashing, then dissipating.
    — Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of lulls
Noun
  • Do them in a circuit format, alternating exercises with breaks.
    — Laura Solla, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026
  • There are a host of new workplace laws covering hiring, pay, employee breaks, construction wages, service workers, and other employment issues.
    — Steven M. Frederick, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of breaks

Browse Nearby Words

lay off (of)
layoffs
lay on
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Cite this Entry

“Layoffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoffs. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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