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
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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
as in to stop
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
you need to lay off eating those jelly doughnuts, or you'll end up looking like one
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of layoff
Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
Search your area for layoff support.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
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
Noun
The companies have had layoffs in recent years, a shock to an industry that not long ago seemed poised for unlimited growth.
—Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
Search your area for layoff support.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 13 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
-
Ebert’s dismissal of the majority of ’80s slasher movies, and the moralization attached to that, has been a sticking point among fans of the genre.—
Richard Newby,
The Hollywood Reporter,
14 Mar. 2025
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One investigated how Israel was taken by surprise at the start of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and its preliminary report sparked the resignation or dismissal first of top generals and then of Prime Minister Golda Meir, ending her career.—
Gershom Gorenberg,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
These cases were unusual, occurring in the winter, and no major rodent infestations were found in these victims’ homes.—
Judy Stone,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
-
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
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
-
He belly flopped onto the ice in ecstasy and relief before he was mobbed by his teammates, and then the game stopped to celebrate the greatest goal scorer who ever lived.—
Chris Jones,
The Atlantic,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The two decisions represent a significant setback for the states, the unions and the civic organizations that had sued the government in an effort to block the summary firings of more than 24,000 federal workers.—
Andrea Hsu,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2025
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Ken Russell, who is also running for mayor, was one of the two remaining commissioners to vote against his firing.—
Tess Riski,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The new season involves a prison break and follows a criminal group, the Phantom Gang, undertaking more daring heists while being pursued by the cops.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Since the All-Star break, Phoenix is 30th in halfcourt defense … by a wide margin.—
Shane Young,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The cuts do not necessarily mean a program will cease to operate.—
Melody Schreiber,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2025
-
The Department of Government Efficiency may not last much longer, but that doesn’t mean fraud and waste will cease.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Then came a cost of living crisis fueled by the war in Ukraine and governments increasing taxes to cover the cost of furlough payments during the pandemic.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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There were already 400 UAW members on indefinite furlough in Kokomo even before Monday’s layoffs.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Imagine an oil rig that detects safety threats in real time, a factory that predicts downtime at a fraction of the cost, or a wind farm that maximizes output across every turbine.—
Amir Husain,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Therefore, respect your need for some privacy and downtime.—
Georgia Nicols,
The Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Layoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layoff. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
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