Synonym Chooser

How does the noun occupation differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of occupation are business, calling, employment, métier, pursuit, and work. While all these words mean "a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living," occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

In what contexts can business take the place of occupation?

While in some cases nearly identical to occupation, business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

When can calling be used instead of occupation?

The words calling and occupation can be used in similar contexts, but calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

When might employment be a better fit than occupation?

While the synonyms employment and occupation are close in meaning, employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

When is it sensible to use métier instead of occupation?

The words métier and occupation are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

Where would pursuit be a reasonable alternative to occupation?

The synonyms pursuit and occupation are sometimes interchangeable, but pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

When would work be a good substitute for occupation?

Although the words work and occupation have much in common, work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

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 occupation Enough of the mass killing, the starvation, the dehumanization, the destruction, the ongoing occupation. Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025 The officials said the IDF chief also warned that the decision to take over Gaza City will eventually lead to a full Israeli military occupation of the Gaza Strip, with Israel bearing complete responsibility for its entire population. Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025 By February 2004, two non-Iraqi figures were quietly turning Iraq’s Shia against the occupation and preparing them, militarily, to inflict pain on the Americans. Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025 Manufacturing and administrative occupations started to disappear in the 1950s and 1960s due to automation and computers, though this was a gradual trend that only affected repetitive and regular work. James Barrat, Big Think, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for occupation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occupation
Noun
  • According to a news release, the annual award honors and recognizes teachers who exemplify excellence in their profession as well as those who leave a lasting positive impact on their students.
    Pioneer Press, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
  • His jubilation that a serial killer might be loose in town is a familiar, and perhaps accurate, journalistic trope—bad for the world; good for the media—but not one that reflects well on the profession.
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Standard mortgage documents commonly include an occupancy clause that requires the borrower to use the property as their principal residence for at least a year.
    Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 6 Sep. 2025
  • No notice, just like when the city added several dollars in transient occupancy taxes to every guest bill with virtually no notice on May 1.
    Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • If being a good writer means living in such a way that the material generates itself, then Paul’s life and vocation are both in need of an overhaul.
    Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Ingelsby hails from a long line of priests, with his uncle leaving his vocation after 30 years, while another two great-uncles served as priests, too.
    EW.com, EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The International Space Station, still in operations today, was begun in 1998, and has led to a 24 year (and counting) unbroken streak of continuous human habitation in space.
    Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Managing one’s personal reputation used to be a preoccupation mainly for celebrities and PR firms, but Gen Z’s habitation of digital spaces allows their every move (or post) to be scrutinized and judged by their peers.
    Ruth Oh Reitmeier, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Over 741,000 Nepalis left the country in the fiscal year 2023-24 to find employment, according to the Post.
    Juliana Kim, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
  • European policymakers were fully aware of the reorganization and job losses at Volkswagen, Luman said, amid broader concerns that falling employment in Germany’s historic car industry could put even more positions at risk.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The company is launching at Selfridges in September and has a four-week residency at Galeries Lafayette starting in November.
    WWD Staff, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Unlike one-off or two-night stadium shows in which the stars, performers, and crew rush into and out of a city, a residency invites fans to come to the artist.
    Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • At work, prioritize diverse, representative, ethical datasets while investing in continuous learning for both AI and human literacy.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • His work is recognized for rejecting straight lines in favor of rounded, continuous forms and for being approachable yet full of personality.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Occupation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occupation. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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