downsize
Reduce the workforce
Downsize means to make smaller, especially to reduce a company's workforce or to move to a smaller residence.
Corporations downsize by laying off employees: The company downsized and eliminated three hundred positions.
People downsize their living situations, typically after children leave or in retirement: After the kids moved out, we downsized to a condo.
The word emerged as corporate euphemism for firing but has lost some of that evasive quality.
Needless duplication
- severanceTermination pay or disconnection
- terminationAct of ending something
- retrenchmentReduction of expenditures
- outplacementJob-search help for terminated employees
furlough · cutbacks · restructuring · dismissal · firings · displaced · buyout · headcount
Aesthetic of reduction
- simplifyMake less complex
- declutterRemove unnecessary items
- essentialsIndispensable items or elements
- purgeEliminate unwanted elements
possessions · materialism · intentional · sustainable · frugal · spartan · uncluttered · streamline
Parent with grown, departed offspring
- retirementLeaving the workforce permanently
- relocationPermanent change of residence
- condoOwned multi-unit dwelling
- apartmentRented unit in building
declutter · simplify · moving · real-estate · mortgage · equity · bungalow · maintenance-free
Rearranging an existing framework
- consolidationCombining into unified whole
- mergerCorporate combination
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
- cost-cuttingReducing expenditures deliberately
efficiency · streamlining · reorganization · leaner · optimization · overhead · operational · outsourcing
Tightly packed together
- subcompactSmallest car classification
- fuel-efficientConsumes minimal energy traveling
- economicalUsing resources sparingly
- hatchbackCar with rear swing-door
sedan · hybrid · trade-in · practical · affordable · parking · commuter · mileage
redundancy
Needless duplication
- severanceTermination pay or disconnection
- terminationAct of ending something
- retrenchmentReduction of expenditures
outplacement · furlough · cutbacks · restructuring · dismissal · firings · displaced · buyout · headcount · rightsizing
minimalism
Aesthetic of reduction
- simplifyMake less complex
- declutterRemove unnecessary items
- essentialsIndispensable items or elements
purge · possessions · materialism · intentional · sustainable · frugal · spartan · uncluttered · streamline · prioritize
empty-nester
Parent with grown, departed offspring
- retirementLeaving the workforce permanently
- relocationPermanent change of residence
- condoOwned multi-unit dwelling
apartment · declutter · simplify · moving · real-estate · mortgage · equity · bungalow · maintenance-free · townhouse
restructuring
Rearranging an existing framework
- consolidationCombining into unified whole
- mergerCorporate combination
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
cost-cutting · efficiency · streamlining · reorganization · leaner · optimization · overhead · operational · outsourcing · offshoring
compact
Tightly packed together
- subcompactSmallest car classification
- fuel-efficientConsumes minimal energy traveling
- economicalUsing resources sparingly
hatchback · sedan · hybrid · trade-in · practical · affordable · parking · commuter · mileage · four-cylinder
- cutbackscutback, cutbacks, decrease, layoff, reduction
- Reduceshrink, diminish, decrease, lessen, reduce
- reorganizationreorganize, restructure, reshuffle, rearrange, realign
- size changesenlarge, enlargement, expand, expansion, shrink
- work verbswork, hire, fire, quit, resign
- Downdownward, downhill, downstairs, downstream, downwind