Synonyms of industry

industry

noun

ˈin-(ˌ)də-strē 

as in effort

attentive and persistent effort

he isn't the smartest kid in class, but he gets the best grades by determined industry

Synonyms & Similar Words

• effort
• diligence
• industriousness
• application
• persistence
• assiduity
• assiduousness
• attention
• concentration
• effortfulness
• attentiveness
• sedulity
• care
• sedulousness
• tenacity
• perseverance
• doggedness
• pains
• painstaking
• trouble
• bother
• tirelessness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• negligence
• carelessness
• idleness
• laziness
• slackness
• indolence

Synonym Chooser

How is the word industry distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of industry are business, commerce, trade, and traffic. While all these words mean "activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities," industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale.

When might business be a better fit than industry?

While the synonyms business and industry are close in meaning, business may be an inclusive term but specifically designates the activities of those engaged in the purchase or sale of commodities or in related financial transactions.

How do commerce and trade relate to one another, in the sense of industry?

Both commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities.

When could traffic be used to replace industry?

The meanings of traffic and industry largely overlap; however, traffic applies to the operation and functioning of public carriers of goods and persons.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of industry

Epic Universe, eight years in the making and sprawling across more than 100 acres, represents a dramatic evolution for Universal, and in some ways, the American theme park industry. —Todd Anderson, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025

Labor-intensive industries – from garments to footwear and lower-end electronics manufacturing and assembly – have subsequently become a major driver of these countries’ economic growth. —John Liu, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025

While campaigning in 2024, Trump made a TikTok account that now has more than 15 million followers; in his second term, his administration is tightly knit with the tech industry. —Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2025

Despite the horror expressed by economists, market strategists and (privately) CEOs, Trump might indeed be right that the U.S. economy and, more specifically, its manufacturing industry, could be revitalized after a period of pain. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2025