Research in Motion announced the layoff of 2000 employees and a restructuring of the company.
Source: tatoeba (241294)
Layoff
Synonyms for "layoff" (82 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (17)
abeyanceaxbootbreakcaesuracashieringcease firecease-firecongecyclical unemploymentday offdeposaldischargedisemploymentdismissal
Strong matches (24)
Noun(5 words)
Related words (41)
Noun(11 words)
let gopauseput on holdshort-term layoffstaff reductionstopsuspendtemporary layoffterminateterminationsunemployment period
letuplullnormal unemploymentpausepink sliprecessremissionremovalrespiterestretirementsackseasonal unemploymentstand downstand-downstaysurplusingsuspensiontechnological unemploymentthe ax
Show 10 more words
the bootthe bouncethe gatethe sacktickettruceunemploymentunemployment insurancevacationwalking papers
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abeyance, ax, boot, break, caesura.
- Sentence evidence is available for layoff, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "layoff".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "layoff"
Keep "layoff" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "layoff" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "layoff", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "layoff" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
11 entriesclosedownclosingclosuredirectivedismissalemployment actioninstructionproduction haltshutdownterminationunemployment
More specific
11 entrieslay off criticismlay off jokeslong layoffmass layoffreduction in forcescheduled downtimeseasonal layoffshort layoffshort term pausetemporary layoffworkforce reduction
Collocations
7 entrieslayoff noticelayoff packagemass layoffpermanent layoffplanned layoffstaff reductiontemporary layoff
Inflections
4 entriesDerivations
2 entrieslaid-offlay off
Sample sentences
5 total sentences available.
One of the muscles on the point of the shoulder was torn loose and it didn't need more than a glance to see that Mr. Hickey was in for a long lay-off. He wouldn't pitch again for quite a spell, if ever;
Source: wiktionary
But even the return of skipper Steven Gerrard from a six-week injury layoff could not inspire Liverpool
Source: wiktionary
After a ten-month layoff, during which extensive testing had taken place in conjunction with AEI, the 'Blue Trains' resumed full operation on October 2 1961, [...].
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "layoff"?
Closest matches include abeyance, ax, boot, break, caesura.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "layoff"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.