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

The security guards, who were employed by Akima Global Services, were distinguishable by the color of their shirts. — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

Igoe did not respond to an email asking if the deputies were still employed or had been disciplined due to the incident. — Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 13 July 2026

Some crew members in the doc seem to think that Schettino was fairly new to working as a ship captain, but according to a BBC profile, Schettino had been employed by Costa Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival, since 2002. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 11 July 2026

The appeals court started its opinion with a discussion of the standards to be employed in determining these appeals. — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Attorneys for the building’s defendants have denied the allegations in court filings and any liability for the accident, and have filed a third-party complaint against the construction company that employed Rojas. — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 9 July 2026

Reporters Nick El Hajj and Isabelle Foland also employed their French and Spanish language skills to interview evacuated Des Moines apartment residents, many of them immigrants. — Rachel E. Stassen-Berger, Des Moines Register, 9 July 2026

The businessman employed an array of shell companies and strawmen to sign documents on his behalf, and to stand in for him as operators of his companies, according to the affidavit. — Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

Additionally, the transit method employed by TESS usually has a search radius of around 150 light-years. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 July 2026