Synonyms of industry

industry

noun

ˈin-(ˌ)də-strē 

as in effort

attentive and persistent effort

he isn't the smartest kid in class, but he gets the best grades by determined industry

Synonyms & Similar Words

• effort
• diligence
• industriousness
• application
• persistence
• assiduity
• assiduousness
• attention
• concentration
• effortfulness
• attentiveness
• sedulity
• care
• sedulousness
• tenacity
• perseverance
• doggedness
• pains
• painstaking
• trouble
• bother
• tirelessness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• negligence
• carelessness
• idleness
• laziness
• slackness
• indolence

Synonym Chooser

How is the word industry distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of industry are business, commerce, trade, and traffic. While all these words mean "activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities," industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale.

When might business be a better fit than industry?

While the synonyms business and industry are close in meaning, 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.

How do commerce and trade relate to one another, in the sense of industry?

Both commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities.

When could traffic be used to replace industry?

The meanings of traffic and industry largely overlap; however, traffic applies to the operation and functioning of public carriers of goods and persons.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of industry

In other industries in which rampant resale markets are problematic, including live music, some acts have blocked uncapped secondary markets. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Alexander Nemenov | Afp | Getty Images Ukraine’s drone campaign against Russia’s e-commerce industry is expanding from Wildberries to Ozon as Kyiv seeks to inflict fresh pain on President Vladimir Putin’s wartime economy. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026

Harris said years of droughts, fires, screwworm and then tariffs for things like fertilizer, fuel and more have made the industry nearly impossible. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

There are stars, and then there are people who captivate an entire industry. — David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026