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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of layoffs
The layoffs became the deliverable because the actual transformation work is the hard work.
—
Julie Averill, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
The layoffs do not affect its coffeehouse employees.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 15 May 2026
The best thing companies can do now is to stop the cycle of overhiring and mass layoffs.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 15 May 2026
Cisco expects about $1 billion in gross costs from the layoffs, William Kerwin, senior equity analyst at Morningstar, wrote in a note this week.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 15 May 2026
The tentative agreement would also give workers a one-time $1,500 payment, cap healthcare premium increases, put limitations on layoffs, expand leave and break abilities, add new holidays where workers get premium pay, and place caps on parking increases and other workplace costs.
—Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
What the experts say Hiring has picked up while layoffs remain relatively subdued, with little evidence so far that the Iran war is affecting the labor market.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 8 May 2026
The filing also notes that the commission later announced layoffs affecting additional staff.
—Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
And this has come with sweeping, indiscriminate layoffs of nonpartisan public servants.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
Julie Averill, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
The layoffs do not affect its coffeehouse employees.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 15 May 2026
The best thing companies can do now is to stop the cycle of overhiring and mass layoffs.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 15 May 2026
Cisco expects about $1 billion in gross costs from the layoffs, William Kerwin, senior equity analyst at Morningstar, wrote in a note this week.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 15 May 2026
The tentative agreement would also give workers a one-time $1,500 payment, cap healthcare premium increases, put limitations on layoffs, expand leave and break abilities, add new holidays where workers get premium pay, and place caps on parking increases and other workplace costs.
—Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
What the experts say Hiring has picked up while layoffs remain relatively subdued, with little evidence so far that the Iran war is affecting the labor market.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 8 May 2026
The filing also notes that the commission later announced layoffs affecting additional staff.
—Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
And this has come with sweeping, indiscriminate layoffs of nonpartisan public servants.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoffs
Noun
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The Mulholland Drive actress has since become one of the most visible voices urging women to recognize perimenopause symptoms earlier, writing a book on the subject and speaking openly about the years of confusion, shame and dismissals that shaped her experience.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2026
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Korey’s record reports multimillion-dollar personal injury case results, more than 1,000 criminal-defense clients served, more than 500 dismissals, and recognition through The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and FOX 26 News.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
As a hardy plant that can withstand cold temperatures and even frost, DePaola explains, asparagus also thrives in areas with cool winters and warm summers.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
11 May 2026
-
Keep your region in mind as well, since these plants can do well in cold and damp winters.—
Jane Kim,
The Spruce,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The firings come on top of huge cuts to the NSF’s budget and the loss of more than 30% of NSF staff since January 2025.—
Gautam Mukunda,
Twin Cities,
14 May 2026
-
Critics say the problem has only been compounded by a raft of cuts and firings and by the broader disruption brought by Kennedy’s health policies.—
Ali Swenson,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Noun
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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
Noun
-
Public pressure and her deteriorating health led to releases and furloughs.—
Irwin Cotler,
Time,
8 May 2026
-
In Cambodia, worker groups spoke of furloughs, cut shifts and job losses.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The quality, however, doesn’t make for a pleasant viewing experience, especially during lulls in the season like the one the Dodgers are currently battling through.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
-
Not all parts of the country seem to have the same pattern, although the data points to school breaks as relative lulls.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Gauff, playing in her second consecutive Italian Open final, appeared in control of the match in the first set, leading 4-2 with chances to go up by two breaks of serve.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
-
Peaks, troughs, breaks, beginnings, and endings shape the quality of decisions.—
Gerald J. Leonard,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Layoffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoffs. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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