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

But the very reticence my father employed to protect us had hollowed out our family. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

Gonska pushed back on that assertion, saying the political strategy employed by Bass during the June 2 primary was different from the activities now being conducted by Building LA in the runoff. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026

Rice is currently employed by the Heat as a scout and team ambassador. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026

Much has been debated and discussed about its many metaphors and symbolism, which employed elements of a splintered universe long before the multiverse was hijacked by Hollywood superhero spectacles. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Catherine Gros, vice president of art, heritage and philanthropy at Renault Group, noted the factory once employed more than 30,000 people, producing a car every 90 seconds. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026

Aguilar was employed at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing office in Fort Worth at the time of the incident. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026

The base employed around 1,300 military and civilian personnel, including roughly 1,070 military members, according to October 2025 figures published by the Town of Wainwright. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 18 Oct. 2026

And later, during the Art Deco era, design juggernauts such as Eileen Gray and Jean Dunand employed the finish in some of their most famous works. — Helena Madden, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2026