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

Tobacco industry jobs in future Cuba Conversations at the home of plastic surgeon Jorge Suárez Menéndez, the night’s host, continued amid anecdotes of how many of the families’ businesses were founded by immigrants, both in Cuba and the United States. —Sarah Moreno updated April 1, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026

Millstream, which already makes soft drinks and cider, acknowledged that the acquisition of 5-year-old Kismet reflects changing times in the beer industry, which has seen a shakeout as consumer tastes shift from alcohol to lighter beverages. —Des Moines Register, 1 Apr. 2026

And work on those vehicles began more than a decade ago — when SpaceX was still a young company that a lot of industry professionals did not take seriously. —Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026

More events—Meetups, panels, workshops—they’re happening much more often in the industry’s epicenter. —Bill Gurley, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026