as in cessations
the stopping of a process or activity
the factory resumed operation after a brief shutdown for repairs
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Recent Examples of shutdowns
However, about a year after Starwood bought the office buildings, the coronavirus outbreak ushered in wide-ranging business shutdowns that chased workers out of their offices over fears about the spread of the deadly virus.
—
George Avalos, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
Yet the term actually dates back to the Covid-19 pandemic, when the seismic impact from widespread shutdowns was just coming into focus and economists all over the world began straining to predict what an eventual recovery would look like.
—Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026
Many parents remember the misery of remote learning during the dark days of COVID-19 school shutdowns.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
Several historic ice storms, such as in 1951 and 2009, have caused widespread power outages and transportation shutdowns.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Jan. 2026
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa last operated in 2011, when the Fukushima disaster caused nationwide shutdowns.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Jan. 2026
Demonstrations have persisted despite mass arrests, lethal force and internet shutdowns.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Kashen said any shutdowns would hurt both families who receive vouchers and those who don't.
—Julie Z. Weil, Arkansas Online, 18 Jan. 2026
To suppress the nationwide mobilization without exacting a high cost, the Iranian regime implemented nightly shutdowns affecting only mobile networks.
—Alberto Dainotti, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
George Avalos, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
Yet the term actually dates back to the Covid-19 pandemic, when the seismic impact from widespread shutdowns was just coming into focus and economists all over the world began straining to predict what an eventual recovery would look like.
—Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026
Many parents remember the misery of remote learning during the dark days of COVID-19 school shutdowns.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
Several historic ice storms, such as in 1951 and 2009, have caused widespread power outages and transportation shutdowns.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Jan. 2026
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa last operated in 2011, when the Fukushima disaster caused nationwide shutdowns.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Jan. 2026
Demonstrations have persisted despite mass arrests, lethal force and internet shutdowns.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Kashen said any shutdowns would hurt both families who receive vouchers and those who don't.
—Julie Z. Weil, Arkansas Online, 18 Jan. 2026
To suppress the nationwide mobilization without exacting a high cost, the Iranian regime implemented nightly shutdowns affecting only mobile networks.
—Alberto Dainotti, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shutdowns
Noun
-
Temporary cessations of hostility, but no permanent closing of the moral and social divide between debtor and creditor, and no giving up on the thought that some lives matter more than others.—
Henry Freedland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Conflict in Yemen has prompted air traffic halts — leaving about 600 tourists stranded on a remote island.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The fact that any soliloquy halts dramatic action also poses a challenge.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
15 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Regardless, Super Bowl 49 easily had one of the most iconic endings in NFL history.—
Steve Bradshaw,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
There were no fairy-tale endings in Love Is Blind season 9, but that was four whole months ago.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Scientists warn that climate change intensifies hazards that affect this roadway — stronger storms, higher seas and more intense wildfires — making future closures more likely along California’s iconic, 650-mile highway.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The Baltimore Sun is tracking the latest forecasts, advisories, closures and emergency preparations from state and local agencies, along with how residents, businesses and institutions are responding in the wake of this weekend’s winter storm.—
Hope Hunt,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And as potent a weapon as corners and free kicks undoubtedly are for Arsenal, all those stoppages are not conducive to the type of high-energy football that teams chasing a goal — and teams chasing a league title — usually favour.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The stoppages helped the Mavericks gain momentum, leading to a 11-0 run over the next two minutes to help Dallas pull away.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Strahan, who was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame after a 15-year career with the Giants, recorded 141½ sacks in 216 games and is considered one of the best defensive ends of all time.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The song also has writing and production credits from Mark Sonnenblick and Ian Eisendrath, known for their work on musicals for stage and screen, and its key features — the story-forward lyrics sung mostly in English and the ascendant, spotlit hook — are built toward those ends.—
Sheldon Pearce,
NPR,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shutdowns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shutdowns. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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