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
Portions of the line were shut down for ten weeks during the summer of 2024, and the section of the line north of the Bedford-Nostrand Station faced summer shutdowns again last year.
—
Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, there could be some intermittent shutdowns because part of the semi’s trailer was pushed half a mile down the tracks.
—Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
In April 2020, people around the globe were struggling to come to grips with the strictures of unprecedented societal shutdowns aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 27 Apr. 2026
Along with the annual switch to summer-blend gasoline and refinery shutdowns, a big driver is rising oil prices tied to the war in Iran.
—Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2026
In addition, the film production economy hasn’t recovered from shutdowns during the 2023 labor strikes.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The shutdowns began last month on Art Rooney Avenue, West General Robinson Street and Scottland Avenue on the North Shore, and continued in the days leading up to the draft.
—Michael Guise, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Mergen said recruitment to the DOJ had become harder over his decades there, as government shutdowns created anxiety about working at the department, and as nonprofits became more competitive in their salaries.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
The theater had remained in operation under Laemmle management even after it was sold during the COVID-19 pandemic, when widespread shutdowns forced difficult financial decisions across the exhibition industry.
—City News Service, Daily News, 18 Apr. 2026
Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, there could be some intermittent shutdowns because part of the semi’s trailer was pushed half a mile down the tracks.
—Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
In April 2020, people around the globe were struggling to come to grips with the strictures of unprecedented societal shutdowns aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 27 Apr. 2026
Along with the annual switch to summer-blend gasoline and refinery shutdowns, a big driver is rising oil prices tied to the war in Iran.
—Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2026
In addition, the film production economy hasn’t recovered from shutdowns during the 2023 labor strikes.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The shutdowns began last month on Art Rooney Avenue, West General Robinson Street and Scottland Avenue on the North Shore, and continued in the days leading up to the draft.
—Michael Guise, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Mergen said recruitment to the DOJ had become harder over his decades there, as government shutdowns created anxiety about working at the department, and as nonprofits became more competitive in their salaries.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
The theater had remained in operation under Laemmle management even after it was sold during the COVID-19 pandemic, when widespread shutdowns forced difficult financial decisions across the exhibition industry.
—City News Service, Daily News, 18 Apr. 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
-
These periods tend to bring sudden news, endings, breakthroughs or a turning point.—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Word endings did a lot more grammatical work, and verbs followed more complicated patterns.—
Valerie M. Fridland,
The Conversation,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Hyperliquid does this without any traditional centralised intermediaries, exchange operators, or clearinghouses and on a 24/7 basis without market closures.—
Bob Diamond,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
About 90 jobs were impacted by the closures.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
During the action, music played through the continuous stoppages, keeping the crowd engaged.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
18 Apr. 2026
-
The stoppages allow for weird moments of drama and the emergence of characters.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Bollards at the ends of each section will permanently keep errant (or malicious) drivers out of the median.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Others — the dreamers and grinders, as Spencer Nusbaum described yesterday — have to take second jobs to make ends meet while toiling away in minor-league baseball.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shutdowns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shutdowns. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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