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
While data breaches and hacks can trigger financial loss and chaos—from data-wiping to hospital shutdowns—the activities usually stop short of causing widespread loss of life or devastating physical destruction.
—
Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2026
Hundreds of millions of people, and entire industries, from the Persian Gulf to Asia, have been affected by industry shutdowns, rising food and heating costs stemming from higher energy prices, and fuel shortages.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Johnny Jones, a member of American Federal Government Employees Council for TSA workers and a local unit that represents workers at Texas airports, noted in a press call on Tuesday that employees have contended with shutdowns on and off for months.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
Airline executives have railed against lawmakers in recent months, urging them to ensure that essential government workers like TSA officers are paid during shutdowns, which have become increasingly common.
—Dan Mangan,leslie Josephs, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
They have been affected by past shutdowns.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
During government shutdowns, employees are not paid, including those deemed essential who are still required to report to work.
—Dallas Morning News, 24 Mar. 2026
For travelers, the impact may not always be immediately visible, but industry experts warn prolonged shutdowns can strain TSA staffing, increase wait times, and heighten stress on frontline workers.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Between government shutdowns, a particularly harsh winter of storms, and conflict in the Middle East, flight disruptions seem to be an unavoidable part of air travel today.
—Graham Rapier, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2026
Hundreds of millions of people, and entire industries, from the Persian Gulf to Asia, have been affected by industry shutdowns, rising food and heating costs stemming from higher energy prices, and fuel shortages.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Johnny Jones, a member of American Federal Government Employees Council for TSA workers and a local unit that represents workers at Texas airports, noted in a press call on Tuesday that employees have contended with shutdowns on and off for months.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
Airline executives have railed against lawmakers in recent months, urging them to ensure that essential government workers like TSA officers are paid during shutdowns, which have become increasingly common.
—Dan Mangan,leslie Josephs, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
They have been affected by past shutdowns.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
During government shutdowns, employees are not paid, including those deemed essential who are still required to report to work.
—Dallas Morning News, 24 Mar. 2026
For travelers, the impact may not always be immediately visible, but industry experts warn prolonged shutdowns can strain TSA staffing, increase wait times, and heighten stress on frontline workers.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Between government shutdowns, a particularly harsh winter of storms, and conflict in the Middle East, flight disruptions seem to be an unavoidable part of air travel today.
—Graham Rapier, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 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
-
Former leaders warn that the loss of institutional knowledge, combined with halts to the incoming pipeline of public health workers, may lead to a long-term crisis.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Automotive industry analysts are forecasting that another microchip shortage could hit in the coming months, which could increase risks for production halts as costs skyrocket.—
Breana Noble,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Indeed, later editors eventually added two more endings to Mark’s Gospel.—
Mary Foskett,
The Conversation,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Things run long in part because the script has too many endings.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Drivers should expect long-term lane and ramp closures between Burleigh Street and Good Hope Road, along with some overnight work.—
Adrienne Davis,
jsonline.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
These stores will have some location closures for Easter, or are expected to be closed based on recent holiday closures.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Much of the work will take place between the two major closures, PennDOT said, adding that crews will keep a lane open in both directions, except for intermittent 15-minute stoppages.—
Ricky Sayer,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Given that a successful appeal would see the challenge retained, there could theoretically be a large amount of stoppages.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
My pop would solder wires to two foot-long metal rods, and then solder battery clips to the other ends.—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
-
There are too many examples of religion trying to control all of us, and only for their ends, not ours.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shutdowns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shutdowns. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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