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on the payroll

ADJECTIVE
employed
Synonyms
STRONGEST
engaged hired occupied
STRONG
busy inked laboring operating selected signed
WEAK
active at it at work in a job in collar in harness in place on board on duty on the job plugging away
Antonyms
WEAK
idle inactive unemployed unengaged unoccupied
ADJECTIVE
jobholding
Synonyms
WEAK
active at it at work busy engaged hired in a job in collar in harness in place inked laboring occupied on board on duty on the job operating plugging away retained selected signed working

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Examples included shelter insiders funneling millions to personal businesses; executive salaries of more than $700,000 a year; and a CEO who’d put several family members on the payroll.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

Employment at small businesses remained fairly consistent in October, according to the latest Paychex Small Business Employment Watch External link, which is based on the payroll data of Paychex customers with fewer than 50 employees.

From Barron's • Nov. 4, 2025

But if you view it as the last stage of Ripley’s career trajectory on the payroll of a company that devalues human life, the movie translates as elegiac.

From Salon • Jul. 4, 2025

Edwards remained on the payroll while suspended, which is normal BBC policy.

From BBC • Jul. 23, 2024

Rarely had I worked so hard at anything, and yet no matter how incompetent I pretended to be, Shelley stubbornly kept me on the payroll.

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs