Find Antonyms
employ Antonyms
Opposite of employ
Because the opposite of employ shifts with each meaning, the 16 antonyms and opposite words below are separated across 4 exact definitions and ranked by contrast strength.
• verb (Context 1)
To give work to someone and pay them for it.
Usage Example
"The local manufacturing plant employs over five hundred residents from the surrounding county."
Strongest
dismiss
fire
discharge
lay off
terminate
Strong
let go
sack
• verb (Context 2)
To make use of a tool, method, or skill for a specific purpose.
Usage Example
"The researchers employed statistical modeling to forecast seasonal changes in rainfall."
Strong
discard
abandon
neglect
Weak
unused
• noun (Context 3)
The state of being employed for wages or salary (used chiefly in the phrase 'in the employ of').
Usage Example
"The engineer worked in the unemployment of the municipal transit authority for over twenty years."
Strongest
unemployment
Strong
joblessness
• verb (Context 4)
To keep someone occupied or devote time and attention to an activity.
Usage Example
"She employed her free afternoons in restoring antique wooden furniture."
Strong
waste
squander
idle
Similar words to employ
Words similar to employ shift depending on context. Common synonyms include:
hire
use
employment
utilize
occupy
recruit
apply
take on
• Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Antonyms for Employ. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/antonyms/employ