INDUSTRIES Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

industry

noun

ˈin-(ˌ)də-strē

Definition of industry next

as in effort

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

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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

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 industry Fears have mounted that increasingly powerful AI models could be a boon for cybercriminals hunting for software vulnerabilities, but many administration allies are wary of government regulation of the industry. —

Joe Walsh, CBS News, 1 July 2026 Santorini has made a global industry out of the cliffside meal for a reason. —

Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Experts predict the aviation industry will face challenges with air traffic control modernization and airport capacity. —

Zach Wichter, USA Today, 1 July 2026 This coincides with the container shipping industry at large, with the number of cargo vessels sailing via the Suez Canal rising to 35 in the week ended June 28. —

Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for industry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for industry

Noun

A bit of a surprise here, as the Warriors were reportedly shopping the 11th pick in an effort to bolster their roster with a win-now player.

— Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 24 June 2026
The search stems from a years-long effort by authorities to revisit information connected to Mansfield, whose family lived on Centerwood Avenue in Hernando County.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2026

Definition of effort

Noun

The Big East will cast a wide net to find someone with a vision, and Ackerman-level resourcefulness and industriousness by next fall.

— Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
This culture emphasizes individual responsibility, industriousness, respect for the rule of law, the dignity of conscience, and the limits of liberty rightly understood.

— MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

Definition of industriousness

Noun

Toe spacers make polish application much easier and cut down on smudging while layers dry.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026
After the application process is completed, the ambassadors are provided access to an online portal, where presentations and activities created by the medical advisory board are shared.

— Sydney Haywood, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2026

Definition of application

Noun

For now, advocates say preparation and persistence are critical as the community faces an uncertain future.

— Tania Francois, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Brown-Nagin highlights how equality is not just an ideal but a legal pursuit requiring strategy, persistence, and courage.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2026

Definition of persistence

Noun

While the Queen Mother was very fond of this Queen Victoria tiara and wore it with relative assiduity, her daughter only wore it once in public, on an official trip to Malta in November 2005.

— Ana Serrano, Glamour, 7 Dec. 2025
These indestructible treasures have always been buried in matter, awaiting the invention of scanning electron microscopes and scientists with enough assiduity to spend decades on end peering into their atomic eyes.

— Virginia Heffernan, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2023