UNEMPLOYED Synonyms: 7 Similar and Opposite Words

unemployed

adjective

ˌən-im-ˈplȯid

Definition of unemployed

as in out of work

having no job the plant closings left a significant portion of the town's population unemployed

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 unemployed Like many American men, Nathaniel Hawthorne spent his twenties unemployed and living with his mother. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026 Simmons, now unemployed, was allowed to post a $150,000 bond to be co-signed by her mother by Friday. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026 Now, when China’s sluggish economy already has a jobs problem—nearly a fifth of young workers are unemployed—the advances of AI threaten to put many more people out of work. — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026 In August, more than 3 million people were unemployed, an increase of 36,000 from the previous year. — Anna Noryskiewicz, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unemployed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unemployed

jobless

Adjective

The data has painted a picture of a low-hire, low-fire economy, with weekly jobless claims low and one indicator showing layoffs at their lowest rate in four years.

— Jeff Cox, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Initial jobless claims have remained muted, while continuing claims for benefits are at their lowest level in more than three years, new data showed Thursday.

— Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of jobless

Browse Nearby Words

unemployable

unemployed

unemployment

See all Nearby Words

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Style

“Unemployed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unemployed. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of unemployed

adjective

Example Sentences

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