CALLING Synonyms: 346 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'calling' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of calling are business , employment , métier , occupation , pursuit , and work . While all these words mean "a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living," calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession. // the ministry seemed my true calling

Q: Where would 'business' be a reasonable alternative to 'calling'?

While in some cases nearly identical to calling , business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs. // the business of managing a hotel

Q: In what contexts can 'employment' take the place of 'calling'?

The words employment and calling can be used in similar contexts, but employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer. // your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

Q: When might 'métier' be a better fit than 'calling'?

The synonyms métier and calling are sometimes interchangeable, but métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted. // acting was my one and only métier

Q: When can 'occupation' be used instead of 'calling'?

The meanings of occupation and calling largely overlap; however, occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training. // his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

Q: When is it sensible to use 'pursuit' instead of 'calling'?

Although the words pursuit and calling have much in common, pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest. // her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

Q: When would 'work' be a good substitute for 'calling'?

While the synonyms work and calling are close in meaning, work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not. // her work as a hospital volunteer

calling 1 of 2

noun

ˈkȯ-liŋ

Definition of calling

as in cancellation

the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to the calling of the match was a disappointment to both players

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in profession

the activity by which one regularly makes a living I think my true calling will be as a commercial artist

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

calling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of call

as in shouting

to speak so as to be heard at a distance we could hear someone calling for help from the other side of the wall

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in dialing

to make a telephone call to use this cell phone to call me if there's an emergency

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as in visiting

to make a brief visit the hospital posts the hours during which friends and relatives may call

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as in canceling

to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) the game was called on account of rain

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in considering

to think of in a particular way I wouldn't quite call that cheating, but it's not entirely ethical either

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as in crying

to utter one's distinctive animal sound the dog called whenever it flushed a quail

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as in summoning

to bring together in assembly by or as if by command called all the night workers in for a meeting

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as in estimating

to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement let's call that five feet for now, and we'll measure it out later

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as in asking

to demand or request the presence or service of rushed to call a tow truck operator when the car broke down

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as in naming

to give a name to we've decided to call the kitten "Molly"

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as in ordering

to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the union president is refusing to call a strike

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as in predicting

to tell of or describe beforehand somehow the political pundit called the race results within a mere percentage point

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun calling differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of calling are business, employment, métier, occupation, pursuit, and work. While all these words mean "a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living," calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

Where would business be a reasonable alternative to calling?

While in some cases nearly identical to calling, business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

In what contexts can employment take the place of calling?

The words employment and calling can be used in similar contexts, but employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

When might métier be a better fit than calling?

The synonyms métier and calling are sometimes interchangeable, but métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

When can occupation be used instead of calling?

The meanings of occupation and calling largely overlap; however, occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

When is it sensible to use pursuit instead of calling?

Although the words pursuit and calling have much in common, pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

When would work be a good substitute for calling?

While the synonyms work and calling are close in meaning, work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

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 calling

Noun

So much of play-calling, Rees said, is about getting into a rhythm with the quarterback, and Penix’s play has allowed Rees to find his own footing. — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Payton will certainly want to prove his decision to take over play-calling from offensive coordinator Davis Webb was a prudent one. — Sam Jane, Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2026

Verb

The viral video calling data centers a menace was uploaded to a data center. — Zev Laine, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026 By his own account, the call went from early to wrong to decent, and now some of his clients are calling it crowded. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for calling

Recent Examples of Synonyms for calling

Noun

Airport attacks in the capital city of Riyadh led to multiple fatalities, flight cancellations and property damage, while facilities belonging to oil giant Saudi Aramco were targeted last week.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026
High tides over the summer resulted in train cancellations and emergency repairs to the rail line.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of cancellation

Noun

Licenses are required for certain professions, such as cosmetologists and barbers.

— Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
While talk of brand deals and hairstyling as a profession are natural assumptions as next steps post-college, Huettl says that for now, this is just a fun hobby.

— Audrey Noble, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of profession

Verb

According to Pollak, the couple repeatedly heard Torn shouting at someone through the hotel's thin walls.

— Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Putting them under one clear execution item can preserve the work while reducing the number of separate things shouting at me.

— Morissa Schwartz, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of shouting

Verb

Refrigerators in French supermarkets are being targeted by remote hackers, who are dialing up their temperature to more than 120 degrees.

— Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 12 Oct. 2026
After Nix and company finally put the ball in the end zone and clawed to within 17-14, Joseph took a big swing to try to get the ball back, dialing up a first-down blitz from San Francisco’s 42-yard line.

— Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of dialing

Verb

A day later, masked settlers attacked a group of European diplomats and others visiting the Christian village of Taybeh.

— Koral Saeed, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Finally, the delegation co-chairs should host a weekly coffee for Illinoisans visiting Washington with brief opening remarks and opportunities for a Q&A and photos.

— John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of visiting

Verb

Organizers have held discussions around allowing overseas executives to participate virtually, Reuters reported last week, and The Wall Street Journal said that some executives are already canceling meetings.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Mission Control faced the prospect of aborting the landing, but Margaret's ingenious programming allowed the system to prioritize essential tasks while canceling the inessential ones.

— Dean Robbins, Space.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of canceling

Verb

However, experts cautioned against considering ammonia a globally sustainable maritime fuel because its global fuel network is not yet fully developed.

— Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Patients considering care abroad should also research the clinic, the practitioner's training and experience, the products being used, emergency procedures and what follow-up care would be available if complications develop after returning home.

— Kristine Lazar, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of considering

Verb

One 10-year-old girl, crying and trying to hug her father, was allegedly grabbed by the neck by law enforcement, according to the lawsuit.

— Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026
Among them were a parent at her daughter’s school who recognized her on account of her voice alone and a dad on an airplane whose baby had been crying non-stop for over an hour.

— Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of crying

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call in

calling

calling down

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“Calling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calling. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of calling

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verb

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Synonyms of calling

noun

verb

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Phrases Containing calling

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Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on calling

More from Merriam-Webster

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Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

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