layoffs

Definition of layoffsnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 Year-to-date, 49,135 layoffs were attributed to AI, according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, close to the 55,000 total layoffs attributed to AI in 2025. Jake Angelo, Fortune, 29 May 2026 The company said the layoffs will cost it as much as $13 million, but save it more than $20 million per year. Lily Wright, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026 In the months since, some faculty members have urged systemwide leadership not to renew the contract and to use the savings to protect jobs at campuses facing layoffs instead. Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026 Ryan Grange, a spokesperson for Pinnacol, said the layoffs were unrelated to ongoing efforts to privatize Pinnacol or the ballot measure being pulled. Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 29 May 2026 The layoffs are scheduled to take effect on July 22 and were described as permanent, the EDD WARN notices show. George Avalos, Mercury News, 28 May 2026 More Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, but layoffs remain low despite economic uncertainty caused by the Iran war. ABC News, 28 May 2026 The Spirit layoffs weren’t reflected in the April jobs report released last week showing an increase in jobs but also an uptick in the unemployment rate. News Service Of Florida, Sun Sentinel, 28 May 2026 Professionals facing career transitions—whether due to layoffs, industry shifts or broader economic forces—are frequently left to navigate change on their own. Irma Becerra, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoffs
Noun
  • The Town Council experienced a wave of upheaval in 2025 amid executive actions, member dismissals, resignations and public criticism.
    Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
  • The Betriebsrat must be consulted before dismissals, and mass layoffs require formal social plans negotiated with employee representatives.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • From ripe peaches and juicy cherries to overflowing amounts of summer squash and bright yellow cobs of corn, summer fruits and vegetables stand as a welcome apology for the dark winters and rainy springs before it.
    Staff Author, Martha Stewart, 29 May 2026
  • Where winters are cold, the eggs hatch in spring.
    Steve Bender, Southern Living, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • The allegations include racial harassment, discriminatory assignments, pay inequality, retaliation, failure to prevent discrimination and harassment, and unequal treatment in areas including discipline, promotions, firings, and constructive discharges.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2026
  • There’s no telling where the Red Sox would have been at this point if the firings hadn’t happened.
    Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • When everyone from operators to engineers and managers are able to discuss yields, downtimes, reworks and even traceability in terms of factual data, discussions can become significantly more fruitful.
    Ihor Yurchenko, Forbes.com, 28 May 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
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
  • Yes, there were lulls, to be sure.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
  • 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
Noun
  • Options for breaks, movement, flexibility, and sensory regulation can make participation more possible.
    Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
  • Sales tax breaks for the Lambda project The Lambda project is expected to receive sales tax breaks through the state.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Layoffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoffs. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on layoffs

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster