1
as in marketplace
the buying and selling of goods especially on a large scale and between different places a government agency in charge of regulating interstate commerce

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2
as in interaction
doings between individuals or groups when I was doing outside consulting for the company, I never had much commerce with the in-house staff

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3

Synonym Chooser

How is the word commerce distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of commerce are business, industry, trade, and traffic. While all these words mean "activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities," commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities.

When might business be a better fit than commerce?

The meanings of business and commerce largely overlap; however, 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.

Where would industry be a reasonable alternative to commerce?

The words industry and commerce are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale.

When would traffic be a good substitute for commerce?

The synonyms traffic and commerce are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 commerce Schwab argued that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act – a 1977 law that gives the president the right to regulate commerce during national emergencies – does not give Trump the right to unilaterally to impose tariffs. Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 13 May 2025 And supporters point to years of bipartisan support from Senators Maria Cantwell of Washington, the ranking Democrat on the Senate commerce committee, and Jim Risch of Idaho, the Republican chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Karen Weise, New York Times, 13 May 2025 The online grocer also proved to be an avenue of commerce for area producers once farmers markets closed for the season. Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 13 May 2025 Bed frame reviewer: Rachel Fletcher, commerce director What attracted you to this bed frame? Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for commerce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commerce
Noun
  • This was the first time Walmart's eCommerce business achieved a full quarter of profitability, benefiting from higher-margin businesses, including online advertising and its marketplace, the company said.
    Ananya Mariam Rajesh, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • The latter firm sees the value of the global women’s sports marketplace growing 300% to $1.28 billion in the next three years.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • In a world where digital interactions often overshadow genuine connections, the profound bond of friendship becomes, more than ever, an indispensable anchor. ...
    Hedy Phillips, People.com, 11 May 2025
  • Not for nothing, either, but Simone’s interaction with the mystery man who may become a series regular (Grown-ish alum Trevor Jackson) was off-the-charts hot.
    Charlie Mason, TVLine, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • First, the movement of women telling their stories of victimization online was dismissed by many as a toxic importation of puritanical American mores that were unnecessary in a culture of seduction and harmony between the sexes.
    Catherine Porter, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • The risk is especially notable for breast cancer in women and colorectal cancer in both sexes.
    Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • The latter arrangement has floundered amid a trade war with China and was not part of a deal to temporarily bring down tariffs last week.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • Seasonal products Ryan Monarch, assistant professor of economics at Syracuse University, told CNN that seasonal and holiday shopping purchases can’t be delayed for two to three months to wait on the trade war to play out.
    Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • But before the summer was over, the other hero of the tale would prove to be the reconciliation process that was making the legislative win possible — a process with its origins in quite a different era of relations between Congress and the president.
    Ron Elving, NPR, 17 May 2025
  • Trans Canada Image Among the many issues now mired in the troubled relations between Canada and the United States is the renegotiation of the Columbia River Treaty.
    Ian Austen, New York Times, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • American society and our relations with other societies are driven by the competition/conflict choice.
    Letters to the Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2025
  • Insiders describe relations between her and brother Santo as tense and combative.
    Mattia Dognini, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Officers then turned her over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for a deportation hearing, although police later dropped the traffic charges against her, according to local media reports.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • Last year, the FAA shifted oversight of Newark’s airspace to Philadelphia in an effort to ease staffing shortages and manage heavy air traffic in the New York region.
    Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • In that incident, Haley said Weinstein unexpectedly asked to meet her in his hotel room and began having unwanted intercourse with her.
    Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2025
  • For couples who are temporarily unable to engage in intercourse, there are still many ways to stay connected physically.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Commerce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commerce. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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