Find Synonyms
employ Synonyms
Another word for employ
Choosing another word for employ depends on context, so the 24 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 4 exact definitions and ranked by match 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
hire
recruit
take on
Strong
engage
retain
commission
enlist
sign up
• 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."
Strongest
use
utilize
apply
Strong
exercise
harness
wield
deploy
Weak
exert
• 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 employment of the municipal transit authority for over twenty years."
Strongest
employment
Strong
service
hire
pay
• 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."
Strongest
occupy
Strong
devote
spend
busied
dedicate
Opposites of employ
The opposite of employ shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:
dismiss
fire
discharge
lay off
terminate
unemployment
let go
discard
• Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Employ. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/employ