Synonyms of unemployed

unemployed

adjective

ˌən-im-ˈplȯid 

as in out of work

having no job

the plant closings left a significant portion of the town's population unemployed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• out of work
• jobless
• underemployed
• subemployed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• employed
• working
• self-employed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unemployed

In season 1, Vicki is introduced as a busy mom to Briana and Michael, wife of recently unemployed Donn Gunvalson, and the president of Coto Insurance. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 10 July 2026

South Africa, where millions of people are unemployed, has seen a ​surge in anti-immigrant sentiment in recent months, culminating in nationwide protests on June 30, an informal deadline set ​for undocumented immigrants to leave the country. — Reuters, NBC news, 9 July 2026

As a result, the percentage of people who have been unemployed for 27 weeks or more has increased to 27% from 23% at this time last year. — Courtney Connley-Hampton, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

This is of particular importance to union members, who were unemployed while the theaters were closed during the pandemic, and then did not see wage increases for several years after, and are facing a high cost of living. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026