layoff 1 of 2

1
as in dismissal
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 winter
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

lay off

2 of 2

verb

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 layoff
Noun
The tour has taken them not only to reliable blue enclaves but also conservative districts where Trump’s tariffs and mass federal jobs layoffs threaten to tank the local economy. Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2025 Friday's jobs report also shows some of the effects of the administration's large-scale layoffs. Scott Horsley, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
In the past two months, the Trump administration has laid off thousands of workers at numerous agencies and paused trillions of dollars worth of federal grants. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2025 Now the White House Is Expanding the Strategy In the Trump administration's early days, thousands of federal employees doing critical work—overseeing the U.S. nuclear stockpile, researching and working to prevent bird flu, overseeing food safety and more—were abruptly laid off before being rehired. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for layoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layoff
Noun
  • Those challenging the dismissals argued that OPM didn't have the authority to order firings.
    Christina Gatti, NPR, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The dismissal of Malone could prove to be a turning point for the Nuggets—either sparking a resurgence or further unraveling their season.
    Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Power-hitting Japanese first baseman Munetaka Murakami, 25, is expected to pursue a move to MLB this winter as well.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2025
  • In the winter, the mammoths, with their enormous weight, would tamp down snow, trapping methane—a greenhouse gas—that would otherwise be released by melting permafrost.
    D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Has Bacteria-Fighting Properties A study found that ACV helped stop the growth of two harmful bacteria: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli).
    Johna Burdeos, Health, 7 Apr. 2025
  • It was recently involved in the CDC's response to measles, advising on measures to stop spread within hospitals.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • About 60 people gathered outside the Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Friday to protest the mass firing of probationary workers and a move from the Trump administration to no longer recognize the union that represents VA employees.
    Angela Palermo and, Idaho Statesman, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Mass firings of federal workers have generated lawsuits Thousands of federal workers have been let go as the Trump administration seeks to dramatically downsize the federal government.
    Time, Time, 29 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The Tigers trailed Creighton at halftime and led Michigan just 30-29 at the break before pulling away down the stretch of both of those games.
    Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2025
  • One fan, as Jokic exited the tunnel at the halftime break, bowed two hands to the center in sheer reverence.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Yellow’s bankruptcy journey has lasted roughly 20 months, with the century-old less-than-truckload (LTL) company ceasing operations July 30, 2023.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 1 Apr. 2025
  • If Jun-no can’t turn things around quickly the company may cease to exist.
    Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • On Wednesday, the administration ramped up its pressure on employees to leave, sending a reminder that layoffs or furloughs could come next.
    CHRIS MEGERIAN, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025
  • On Wednesday, Lopez was sentenced to probation, with a six-year prison sentence suspended for five years, and ordered to complete a work furlough program after pleading guilty to DUI causing injury and having a blood-alcohol content of over 0.15%.
    Christian Martinez, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Matchmaking is disabled before any significant downtime, and players are not able to access the game during this window.
    Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Through comprehensive and responsive support, organizations can take advantage of minimal downtime, quick-issue resolution and the smooth operation of business-critical applications.
    Steve Millidge, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Layoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoff. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on layoff

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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