EMPLOY Synonyms: 87 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'employ' contrast with its synonyms?

The words use and utilize are common synonyms of employ . While all three words mean "to put into service especially to attain an end," employ suggests the use of a person or thing that is available but idle, inactive, or disengaged. // looking for better ways to employ their skills

Q: Where would 'use' be a reasonable alternative to 'employ'?

Although the words use and employ have much in common, use implies availing oneself of something as a means or instrument to an end. // willing to use any means to achieve her ends

Q: When is it sensible to use 'utilize' instead of 'employ'?

While the synonyms utilize and employ are close in meaning, utilize may suggest the discovery of a new, profitable, or practical use for something. // an old wooden bucket utilized as a planter

employ 1 of 2

verb

im-ˈplȯi

Definition of employ

as in to hire

to provide with a paying job a new factory that will employ 500 people

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to use

to put into action or service looking for a job in which she can employ her considerable writing skills

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

employ

2 of 2

noun

im-ˈplȯi

as in employment

the state of being provided with a paying job while you're under our employ, you can't do outside work for our competitors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb employ contrast with its synonyms?

The words use and utilize are common synonyms of employ. While all three words mean "to put into service especially to attain an end," employ suggests the use of a person or thing that is available but idle, inactive, or disengaged.

looking for better ways to employ their skills

Where would use be a reasonable alternative to employ?

Although the words use and employ have much in common, use implies availing oneself of something as a means or instrument to an end.

willing to use any means to achieve her ends

When is it sensible to use utilize instead of employ?

While the synonyms utilize and employ are close in meaning, utilize may suggest the discovery of a new, profitable, or practical use for something.

an old wooden bucket utilized as a planter

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 employ

Verb

The Standard Oil tycoon employed Carrère and Hastings, the firm famed for its design of The New York Public Library, to realize this 75-room, neoclassical Beaux-Arts mansion. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026 The company and its affiliates employ about 3,200 workers in Arkansas. — John Magsam, Arkansas Online, 4 Sep. 2026

Noun

My main employ is on a property that was bought in the 1890s by a New York manufacturer and turned into a model farm with a mansion. — Matt Seaton, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026 The number of Haitians under John Knox Village’s employ may be small at 12, out of some 300 staff. — David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for employ

Recent Examples of Synonyms for employ

Verb

Dismissing the general manager who hired Espada doesn’t bode well, but Crane made a clear distinction between the two men during the aftermath.

— Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Scott hired Luca Khouri, a Jamaican artist, to photograph the campaign at the end of March, which was styled by Marika-Ella Ames.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of hire

Verb

Operators can also continue using diesel when hydrogen supplies are unavailable.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
Razorbill brings that experience to one of the industry's most recognizable blade profiles, using extensive CNC machining to make geometry itself part of both the product's performance and its appearance.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of use

Noun

In fact, the breakeven rate of employment growth, or the number of net new jobs needed each month to keep the unemployment rate steady, actually went slightly negative during the summer and fall of 2025.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
The proposal is part of Gates’ broader warning that governments need to prepare now for dramatic changes to employment brought on by AI.

— Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of employment

Verb

In rural areas, food insecurity helps armed groups recruit soldiers and causes disputes over scarce land and water resources.

— Anna Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026
Basupi, who is from Botswana, leads more than 100 missionaries and helps recruit Africans for cross-cultural mission work.

— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of recruit

Verb

This looks like their feedback actually being utilized, their offers getting more personalized and their rewards becoming more tailored.

— Zsuzsa Kecsmar, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Columbia Sportswear utilizes proprietary Omni-Freez Zero technology, which uses special polymer rings embedded in the fabric that react with sweat to pull heat away from the body.

— David Moin, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of utilize

Verb

Green is currently engaged to Dancing With the Stars pro Sharna Burgess, and was previously married to Megan Fox.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Sep. 2026
Land facing uphill and one spine engages; land facing downhill and the other does the job without the need for a pilot to calculate the perfect approach angle.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of engage

Verb

Under Moreno, the Angels squandered the prime of Mike Trout and failed to exploit the Black Swan event that was Ohtani.

— Andy McCullough, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
This means Astra can find and exploit previously unknown security flaws without human oversight, under the right conditions.

— Emily Forlini, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of exploit

Browse Nearby Words

emplacing

employ

employable

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Employ.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/employ. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of employ

verb

noun

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Synonyms of employ

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

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Articles Related to employ

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