Synonyms of businesslike

businesslike

adjective

as in professional

having or showing qualities that are considered good in business

His businesslike approach to the dispute was very helpful.

a businesslike manner

Related Words

• professional
• practical
• polite
• serious
• earnest
• strict
• unsmiling
• stern
• staid
• humorless
• solemn
• sedate
• harsh
• no-nonsense
• distinguished
• sober
• dignified
• po-faced
• severe
• uncomic
• weighty
• grave
• grim
• sobersided
• serious-minded
• gloomy
• elevated

Dissimilar Words

• funny
• comical
• light
• droll
• comic
• ridiculous
• hysterical
• farcical
• riotous
• ludicrous
• lighthearted
• hilarious
• antic
• uproarious
• frivolous
• laughable
• goofy
• risible
• scatterbrained
• puerile
• flighty
• screaming
• foolish
• harebrained
• silly
• absurd
• zany
• mad
• playful
• unwise
• humorous
• sidesplitting
• preposterous
• balmy
• insane
• fatuous
• nonsensical
• crazy
• jocular
• jerky
• wacky
• daffy
• nutty
• cockeyed
• sappy
• kooky
• flippant
• brainless
• witless
• light-headed
• loony
• senseless
• asinine
• cuckoo
• facetious
• joking
• daft
• kittenish
• featherbrained
• ludic
• flip
• screwball
• dotty
• weak-minded
• half-witted
• jesting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of businesslike

For his part, Bisignano, the Social Security commissioner, wants to be seen as a leader who’s making the agency more businesslike and efficient, according to interviews with agency staff and recordings of him speaking in private executive meetings. — Eli Hager, ProPublica, 28 Apr. 2026

Conversely, the Oilers had a businesslike finish to their campaign despite adverse circumstances, specifically the absences of Draisaitl and Hyman. — Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026

The atmosphere was hushed and businesslike; this was a routine pretrial hearing, and only a few other spectators joined me in the gallery. — Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026

The relative wrote back and, in an almost businesslike tone, informed her that there was no space left at the Maine cemetery. — Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2026