Synonyms of employed

employed 1 of 2

adjective

as in engaged

involved in often constant activity

insisted that the children be employed in some useful activity, even during school vacations

Synonyms & Similar Words

• engaged
• diligent
• busy
• occupied
• working
• active
• preoccupied
• immersed
• industrious
• assiduous
• sedulous
• bustling
• laborious
• absorbed
• operating
• hopping
• tied-up
• concentrating
• focused
• going
• functioning
• operative
• humming
• operational
• buzzing
• animated
• running
• lively
• engrossed
• thriving
• flourishing
• swamped
• hardworking
• vibrant
• living
• happening
• intent
• energetic
• functional
• knee-deep
• astir
• alive
• vigorous
• tireless
• indefatigable
• untiring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unemployed
• idle
• unoccupied
• inactive
• free
• latent
• passive
• dormant
• quiescent
• asleep
• sleepy
• inert
• lifeless
• unbusy
• slow
• dead
• dull
• inoperative
• nonoperating

employed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of employ

1

as in hired

to provide with a paying job

a new factory that will employ 500 people

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hired
• recruited
• engaged
• paid
• retained
• placed
• enlisted
• signed (up or on)
• assumed
• laid on
• feed
• took on
• rehired
• reemployed
• partnered
• subcontracted
• contracted
• apprenticed
• promoted
• jobbed
• reengaged
• upgraded
• scouted
• kept (on)
• advanced
• headhunted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dismissed
• discharged
• fired
• canned
• sacked
• laid off
• axed
• locked out
• furloughed

2

as in used

to put into action or service

looking for a job in which she can employ her considerable writing skills

Synonyms & Similar Words

• used
• utilized
• applied
• exploited
• operated
• harnessed
• exercised
• brought to bear
• drew on
• made use of
• wielded
• handled
• manipulated
• worked
• directed
• reused
• recycled
• ran
• cannibalized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignored
• neglected
• misused
• misapplied

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of employed

Verb

McGowan grew up in Alberta, Canada, to a father who worked as a social worker and a mother employed at a bank. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026

At the same time, the Iranian Shahed-136, on which the Geran-2 is based, has been employed extensively in the Middle East. — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

In early 2023, PIF held exploratory talks about investing in various other clubs across Europe, notably Belgium’s KV Oostende, with a view to establishing the kind of multi-club model employed by Red Bull, City Football Group, BlueCo and others. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026

Victorian-era tattoos were the reference for the glyptic technique employed to produce this necklace. — Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 1 Aug. 2026

So the Chiefs employed two of the worst-six running backs in their ability to make people miss. — Sam McDowell 31, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026

Increasingly, the answer comes in the form of an intimacy coordinator — a role that Araki, long known for embracing provocative themes, employed for the first time on this project. — Anna Tingley, Variety, 31 July 2026

Instead, Reddit argued that its licensing agreement with Google directly prohibits certain uses of Reddit data that are now being accessed due to the circumvention methods employed by malicious web scrapers. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026

According to the Grapevine-Colleyville school district, Pitulic was employed as a substitute at GCISD since January 2023. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 July 2026