RECRUITS Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

recruits 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of recruit

as in hires

to provide with a paying job thousands of recent immigrants were recruited to build the nation's rail system

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recruits

2 of 2

noun

plural of recruit

as in apprentices

a person who is just starting out in a field of activity the skydiving instructor and other experienced jumpers tried to encourage the new recruits on their first jump

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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 recruits

Verb

Monét released a trailer for Frequency of Love, which recruits a range of collaborators across R&B, including SZA, Bruno Mars, Leon Thomas, Bryson Tiller, Chlöe and Lucky Daye. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2026 The Lioness Program recruits female operatives who go undercover and infiltrate the inner circles of enemy targets by getting close to the women connected to them. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Sep. 2026 Aguilar was told by fire academy recruits that her social media content helped bring them into the profession. — Vincent Medina, Sacbee.com, 21 Sep. 2026 The people helping recruits land scholarships are not necessarily involved in negotiating what comes with them. — Manny Navarro, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 Each week, Blake recruits two equally under-qualified friends from the entertainment world to join his new business and tackle a challenge none of them are remotely prepared for. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026 Standout recruits among the mass of volunteers were selected for additional training and assigned to high-priority operations. — Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026 Ryu and Ken Masters’ paths collide again after Chun-Li (Liang) tracks them down and recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament. — Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2026 In the 1990 original, Quaid played a race team owner who recruits Cole into NASCAR, while Nicole Kidman played a neurosurgeon who becomes Cole’s love interest. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026

Noun

Around 72% of managers plan to boost pay for recruits with relevant AI skills, and 42% say that knowledge commands a greater surcharge than other technical skills. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026 Wilkerson was one of the dozens of recruits to take in the Horned Frogs’ top-10 showdown with the Cougars. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2026 Santos decided to step away from Special Forces just before the recruits were set to climb a ladder suspended 300 feet above the jungle canopy. — Entertainment Weekly, 3 Oct. 2026 Increasingly, so are the women who train recruits, enforce rules, supply doctrine and sustain the systems behind it. — Sara Harmouch, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026 New recruits and seasoned officers alike take field trips to the Museum of Tolerance, where trainers extol the virtues of multiculturalism. — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026 The Patterson hire is just five games in and somehow looks like a downgrade, despite top recruits like Luke Wafle and Jakheem Stewart playing on the defensive line. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Those recruits would thus benefit from a competitive market based on supply and demand. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Sep. 2026 The recruits are rounded out by Jude Callan (Ronen Rubinstein), a charming, cocky bad boy with unexpected depth. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for recruits

Verb

Verity can’t finish her book series for mysterious reasons, so Jeremy hires Lowen to do so for her.

— Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Whether that is a potential path forward is impossible to predict until Crane hires a new head of baseball operations.

— Chandler Rome, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of hires

Noun

Experienced workers are needed not only to fill jobs, but to mentor apprentices, supervise jobsite learning, and teach the next generation.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026
Eligible watchmaking students and apprentices may apply from Switzerland, France, Belgium, Germany and, as of this edition, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

— Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of apprentices

Noun

Other college freshmen might be outside soaking up the nice weather on this sunny September day.

— Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
The College of Literature, Science and the Arts is the largest at the public university, with about 3,500 freshmen enrolled yearly, just less than half of the total class.

— Dan Simmons, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of freshmen

Noun

The sizable number of offerings in every box can help bean novices get acquainted with new products and strengthen their bond with favorites.

— Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Sep. 2026
Despite being an expert in her craft, Godshalk communicated the principles of floral design to her students in a way that was easy for novices to digest.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of novices

Noun

Fresno is emerging as an unexpected draw for younger residents priced out of coastal hubs, with affordable homes and jobs — but newcomers are pushing up rents and prices.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
So while remixing one’s own work of the past may be a cool curio for serious fans, collaboration among genre titans and newcomers could be the real key to getting rap back in the conversation and on the charts.

— Michael Saponara, Billboard, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of newcomers

Noun

On ordinary days, the loop is a training ground for runners and cyclists, and an unusually forgiving place for beginners and families.

— Rick Maese, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
Generally, racehorses aren’t suitable for young children or beginners, and owners must have the space and wherewithal to feed and care for them, which can cost thousands of dollars a year.

— Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of beginners

Noun

Edge Josh Uche relayed something similar, explaining that Rodriguez remains the unwavered through it all, a rarity among rookies.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
And his rookies, even the potentially franchise-altering kind, will wear embarrassing backpacks.

— Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of rookies

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recruits

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“Recruits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recruits. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of recruits

verb

noun

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