1
as in companies
a commercial or industrial activity or organization
most of the local businesses belong to the association
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in things
something to be dealt with
we have one piece of business remaining for today's meeting
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in jobs
the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists
plants going about the business of photosynthesis provide the Earth with a renewable source of oxygen
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in areas
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence
if you want a medical malpractice lawyer, he's the best in the business
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in missions
a specific task with which a person or group is charged
the interrogators demanded to know what business the suspect had in the restricted area at that time of night
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in betrayals
the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another
the price for giving the drug lord the business was certain death
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 businesses
Wells Fargo is giving a total of $6 million to six nonprofits to bolster housing access, job training and small businesses in west Charlotte, the banking giant announced Tuesday morning.
—
Chase Jordan
april 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2026
De Rothschild and her husband, Benjamin, were also in the midst of a battle with Benjamin’s cousin, David de Rothschild, regarding who could use the family name for their businesses.
—Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
For the first time in over five years, a delegation of Indian businesses visited China, according to Ranjeet Mehta, secretary general and CEO of Indian trade body PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
In Tehran, a city of nine million people, schools are closed, businesses are shuttered or struggling, and locals are living without a functioning air-raid warning system or public shelters.
—Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 6 Apr. 2026
In city after city on the road to Tehran, AP reporters saw normal traffic, businesses open and people walking the streets.
—Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
The new rules also significantly raise annual licensing costs for hemp businesses, increasing manufacturer fees from just over $250 to $10,000, and retail registrations from $155 to $5,000.
—Erin Jones, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
Several businesses located at the strip mall took to social media Monday afternoon to provide updates on the fire.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
The Hawaii Tourism Authority said many businesses are resuming operations as usual, urging visitors to be cognizant of signage in areas like Mokuleia and Waialua.
—Tiare-Leiana Solis-Ridgell, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
Chase Jordan
april 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2026
De Rothschild and her husband, Benjamin, were also in the midst of a battle with Benjamin’s cousin, David de Rothschild, regarding who could use the family name for their businesses.
—Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
For the first time in over five years, a delegation of Indian businesses visited China, according to Ranjeet Mehta, secretary general and CEO of Indian trade body PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
In Tehran, a city of nine million people, schools are closed, businesses are shuttered or struggling, and locals are living without a functioning air-raid warning system or public shelters.
—Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 6 Apr. 2026
In city after city on the road to Tehran, AP reporters saw normal traffic, businesses open and people walking the streets.
—Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
The new rules also significantly raise annual licensing costs for hemp businesses, increasing manufacturer fees from just over $250 to $10,000, and retail registrations from $155 to $5,000.
—Erin Jones, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
Several businesses located at the strip mall took to social media Monday afternoon to provide updates on the fire.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
The Hawaii Tourism Authority said many businesses are resuming operations as usual, urging visitors to be cognizant of signage in areas like Mokuleia and Waialua.
—Tiare-Leiana Solis-Ridgell, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for businesses
Noun
-
Jenkins said Lazo's crimes led ride-hailing companies to change their practices to increase rider safety.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Continue reading … SILICON SQUEEZE — Tech companies put on notice as Meta caves to Florida's under-14 social media ban.—
,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Knicks only truly made things interesting in minutes the former Brooklyn Nets star and sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer spent on the bench on Tuesday.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Upstairs at Place, things are a little more formal.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Wang, the activist, is hoping that the high-tech industries that are now the nation's priority will help Shanxi's transition by providing jobs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Brockman and Sutskever managed OpenAI’s daily operations, while Musk and Altman, still busy with their other jobs, stopped by around once a week.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
During heavy rainfall, there is a risk of flooding, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Whiteley Estate also harvests rainwater, which is reused in both guest bathrooms and public areas, and runs on an energy monitoring system that analyses the use of electricity, heating, water and gas to optimize how and when it’s used.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Korth pointed out that ice is a perennial plumbing issue for moon missions going back to NASA’s shuttle program.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Five more successful landing missions followed, but there was no momentum to carry on beyond Apollo 17 in 1972.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There are some broadly entertaining yet scattershot series of betrayals, shootouts, car chases (and subsequent crashes), though little that actually raises the pulse or grabs your emotions.—
Chase Hutchinson,
IndieWire,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The streamer said the drama will show how the couple’s love, betrayals and artistic work were shaped by the political and social atmosphere of the time.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
When workers are scarce, firms have to offer higher wages to attract and keep them.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The firms have already started integrating Grok into their IT systems in some cases, according to anonymous sources who spoke to The Times.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But such is the risk-reward of attempting to get ahead of the game in such matters before cost increases.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
-
This is where d/acc’s democratic instinct matters.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Businesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/businesses. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
