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 The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week but layoffs remain in the historically healthy range of the past few years. — ABC News, 30 July 2026 The Charlotte Ledger newsletter first reported on the layoffs. — Chase Jordan july 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026 Clayton succeeds Bill Pulte, whose interim tenure brought multiple rounds of layoffs of high-ranking officials. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 30 July 2026 Largely due to layoffs and resignations, the agency has lost 3,000-plus employees, more than one-quarter of its workforce. — CBS News, 30 July 2026 Under leaders installed by the president, the center saw severe staff layoffs, artist and audience boycotts, and more programming in line with political priorities. — Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 Meanwhile, the company is grappling with financial losses, a corporate restructuring, thousands of layoffs, and the shuttering of some European plants. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 30 July 2026 While significant layoffs swept ESPN, the article dismisses speculation that high-profile contracts, such as Pat McAfee's, were the direct cause of Ravech's unexpected departure. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 Budget cuts have led to massive layoffs at the USDA, CDC, and FDA. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 23 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoffs

Noun

Other states including New Mexico and West Virginia also recently won dismissals of lawsuits seeking their voter rolls as well, as states push back against federal lawsuits, according to the Associated Press.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026
That led to a number of dismissals, including coach Massimiliano Allegri.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 June 2026

Definition of dismissals

Noun

But for homeowners living in areas that experience extreme heat, cold winters or both, changes to your home energy costs could be rather large.

— Alora Bopray, USA Today, 30 July 2026
But even some wealthy countries are less equipped to deal with overnight heat; air-conditioning has historically been uncommon in northern Europe, and buildings there are often designed to hold heat to cope with long winters.

— Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 30 July 2026

Definition of winters

Noun

Pelley was shown the door with cause after confronting management over the firings at a June 1 meeting.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026
The cuts include some firings, but mostly sending intelligence officials from other agencies who have been assigned to work at ODNI, such as the CIA, back to their primary jobs, according to The Washington Post.

— Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of firings

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

Definition of downtimes

Noun

Police, firefighters, paramedics, and 911 employees are exempt from the furloughs.

— Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 30 June 2026
The savings the city will get from the unpaid worker furloughs during the first year of the deal — the new fiscal year starting July 1 — nearly covers the cost of the 2% raises and other benefits employees get that first year.

— David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2026

Definition of furloughs

Noun

Parties have exploited lulls in fighting to buy time, rebuild capabilities and consolidate political or territorial gains ahead of the next round of conflict.

— Anthony Wanis-St John, The Conversation, 10 July 2026
Getty Images There are lulls on the PGA Tour calendar, and this is one of those heading into the John Deere Classic this weekend.

— Jeff Hartman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of lulls

Noun

Suarez has said his plan would also mark a departure from what’s become common practice on the Beach for new construction where developers request variances and other breaks for projects.

— Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
First, get rid of the hydration breaks; just go to a true quarters system.

— The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of breaks

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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 31 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of layoffs

noun

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