RECRUIT Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

recruit 1 of 2

verb

ri-ˈkrüt

Definition of recruit

as in to hire

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

recruit

2 of 2

noun

as in apprentice

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 recruit

Verb

The stakes of recruiting and retaining elite talent are high in the current hypercompetitive AI market. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 Brokers are always recruiting new agents — not just seasoned veterans snatched from other firms in search of larger splits or better support, but also rookies lured in by the prospect of big paydays. — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Noun

Thornton and Michigan recruit Quentin Burrell are pretty much an unstoppable duo. — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 The first involved an impermissible contact with the family of a prospective recruit at a restaurant in 2019, which the NCAA’s complex case unit classified as a Level II violation. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recruit

Recent Examples of Synonyms for recruit

Verb

Dismissing the general manager who hired Espada doesn’t bode well, but Crane made a clear distinction between the two men during the aftermath.

— Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Scott hired Luca Khouri, a Jamaican artist, to photograph the campaign at the end of March, which was styled by Marika-Ella Ames.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of hire

Verb

This metric measures the proportion of the working-age population that is either employed or actively seeking employment.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
The same restraint applies to professors, who will not be permitted to employ AI to write syllabuses or course materials.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of employ

Noun

Davis, who attended Blue Valley North, was named Big 12 freshman of the week nine consecutive times.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026
The senators cited a fall 2025 UC San Diego faculty work group paper that found about 1 in 12 incoming UCSD freshmen were testing below high school math standards, a share that the report said grew nearly thirtyfold since 2020.

— Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of freshman

Noun

The battle for Charlotte’s wealth Charlotte’s hometown banking giants like Truist and Bank of America, as well as San Francisco’s Wells Fargo, are competing with aggressive out-of-state newcomers to capture clients.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026
Miami Beach today may be filled with newcomers, cranes and construction, deals and demolitions.

— Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of newcomer

Noun

Yarn crafters of all skill levels are welcome, from beginners to experienced makers, the release said.

— Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ is one of the best telescopes for beginner-to-intermediate stargazers who want to view deep-sky objects and appreciate assistance in manually locating the targets.

— Paul Brett, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of beginner

Browse Nearby Words

recrudescing

recruit

recruited

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Style

“Recruit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recruit. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of recruit

verb

noun

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