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 next

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

Examples Sentences

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Recent Examples of employ

Verb

Sasaki On The Padres Contrary to popular belief, the Padres employ even more pitchers with experience in Japan than the Dodgers do. —

Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025 The formula employs sodium hexametaphosphate to tackle tartar and stains and remineralizing fluoride to stave off cavities and boost brightness. —

Annie Blackman, Allure, 16 Jan. 2025

Noun

All of these employ locals—as per the fictional Muratoris. —

Scarlett Conlon, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2024 This lets the headset employ foveation, where more processing power is dedicated to rendering what the user is looking directly at versus the periphery, enabling better performance. —

Will Greenwald, PCMAG, 18 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for employ

Recent Examples of Synonyms for employ

Verb

Less than a month later, Hamp hired Chris Spielman as a special assistant to her and team president Rod Wood and empowered the former Lions linebacker to be a key part of the search for a general manager and coach.

Larry Lage, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2025
On top of that, Cousins long had been considered the platonic ideal of plug-and-play quarterback for the Kyle Shanahan passing game, and the Falcons had just hired an offensive coordinator (Zac Robinson) who was a branch off of that larger tree.

Josh Kendall, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025