ENSLAVE Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

enslave

verb

Definition of enslave

as in to annihilate

to take control of and assert authority over

—usually used as (be) enslaved Her ancestors were enslaved during the war.

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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 enslave There, our ancestors and those of your African-American cousins and family were enslaved. — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026 Historians began to construct a rich and sobering narrative of the lives of both enslavers and enslaved, as well as a portrait of the system that bound them together. — Drew Gilpin Faust, The New York Review of Books, 19 Sep. 2026 Keanu Reeves stars as hacker Neo, who discovers that humanity’s been enslaved by a malevolent cyber-intelligence and joins up with badass rebels Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) to fight back. — Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026 That her ancestors, David and Violet, were enslaved at Sharswood. — Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for enslave

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enslave

Verb

Atlanta roughed up the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau, then annihilated the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome.

— Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2026
Accordingly, Trump’s public deliberations about who to invade and who to annihilate were themselves crimes, committed in full view of thousands of diplomats and heads of state.

— Anjali Dayal, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of annihilate

Verb

Sullivan touted his Bycatch Reduction Act, a bill intended to reduce excess fish caught by large commercial trawlers.

— Matthew Choi The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Energy-absorbing seats are designed to manage forces transmitted to occupants during an impact, potentially reducing injury risks.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of reduce

Verb

For now, the study identifies a previously underappreciated part of the immune system that could help overcome one of SCLC’s most persistent defenses.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
But Gordon has emerged as Miami’s clear lead back, capable of overcoming a poor situation.

— Dalton Del Don, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of overcome

Verb

For Putin, these were not goodwill gestures but measures of self-preservation designed to advance his broader aim of subjugating Ukraine.

— Eric Ciaramella, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 2026
The ruling was widely seen by progressives as subjugating the role of the individual in the election process to that of the corporation.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of subjugate

Verb

Popo would lick her cone ever so gracefully, never dripping or messing up the lining of her magenta lipstick.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Teams have to be licking their chops after seeing what Tampa Bay did to Dallas last Thursday night, especially considering the defense (or lack thereof) that the Cowboys have shown through five weeks.

— Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of lick

Verb

In Tirana this week, protesters smashed windows, set alight government buildings and clashed with police.

— Reuters, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026
Federal officials maintain the immigration officers believed their lives were in danger and opened fire only after Belgal smashed his car into two government vehicles and accelerated toward them.

— Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of smash

Verb

Now imagine whipping your phone out after work, telling the world about it, and landing a brand deal worth $10K or more.

— Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
Now imagine the same hot and dry conditions, but with the Santa Anas whipping at 40 miles an hour.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of whip

Browse Nearby Words

enskying

enslave

enslaved

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Enslave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enslave. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of enslave

verb

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