INDUSTRY 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

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 Here’s a look at the most intriguing quarterback in each of our seven tiers with some thoughts from those in the industry. — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 22 July 2026 Jones hopes the study finds improvements to the current system Charlotte Water works under, and that the state avoids overinvesting into industries that take up a lot of water such as data centers. — Zaire Breedlove, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026 Mancilla, who’s 60, said he’s been in the restaurant industry for nearly 40 years. — Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026 But this means navigating an industry-wide supply-chain crisis driven by AI demand for memory chips. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for industry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for industry

Noun

The totality of Clark’s effort made White react more like a fan than a coach.

— James Boyd, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Smaller nonprofit efforts — often faith-based — can also offer a soft landing place, but few exist.

— Amber Gaudet July 18, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026

Definition of effort

Noun

Until the industry is regulated, the best protection for your dog is your own diligence.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
That reputation for precision and diligence influenced the organization’s evaluation of Bregman, 32, a two-time World Series champion with the Houston Astros whose adjustment period has lasted longer than anticipated.

— Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of diligence

Noun

Mayo Clinic is now running a clinical trial to test whether AI can help identify patients at risk of or with early-stage pancreatic cancer — an application the hospital has said could detect the disease years earlier than the typical diagnosis.

— Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
In one instance, there was a 488% increase in applications for test drives on the day of the stream, Moutran told Semafor.

— Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 15 July 2026

Definition of application

Noun

Analysts said the persistence of such underlying weakness also raises the question of whether Chinese officials will turn to more fiscal stimulus to try and boost domestic spending.

— Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
This book shows the importance of persistence when refining a skill and remaining true to oneself.

— Brooke Harris Garad, The Conversation, 14 July 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

Definition of assiduity

Cite this Entry

Style

“Industry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/industry. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of industry

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on industry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

stalwart

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes