HIRELING Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

hireling

noun

ˈhī(-ə)r-liŋ

Definition of hireling

as in employee

one who works for another for wages or a salary demanded to speak to the store's owner and not one of his hirelings

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 hireling To pretend otherwise in the year 2024 is all-but to out oneself as a hireling. — Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 12 Feb. 2024 Neither should some assistant DA hireling be allowed to forgo appropriate punishment under state law. — Star Tribune, 8 Dec. 2020 Not since Carson Palmer has one of Mike Brown’s hirelings had the emperor in such a headlock. — Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 2 Jan. 2018 No refuge could save the hireling and slave from the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave. — Solomon Jones, Philly.com, 18 July 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hireling

Noun

Two Boston city councilors are pushing for a change in city law that would require Mayor Michelle Wu to report street projects annually as Wu faces criticism for stalling road work before a city employee was killed by a truck.

— Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 22 July 2026
As companies lack clear personal branding policies, Taylor believes employees like her are proactively shaping future corporate guidelines, volunteering to lead this evolving professional frontier.

— Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of employee

Noun

The building appears to be still in the framing stage with workers making adjustments to the concrete pylons as cars zip past.

— Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
From a human trafficking sweep, to a mistrial in the K Street mass shooting case, to a look at a state worker Reddit community, here’s a rundown of the top Sacramento stories on July 21.

— Ruyuan Li. Summary produced by AI assistance, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of worker

Browse Nearby Words

hired guns

hireling

hirelings

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“Hireling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hireling. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of hireling

noun

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