ENSLAVING Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

enslaving

verb

present participle of enslave

as in reducing

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 enslaving Columbus, for all his accomplishments in exploration, also had a brutal history of killing, raping, and enslaving natives, and forcing cultural assimilation and Christianity during his conquest of the Americas. — Mackenzie Chase, The Washington Examiner, 12 Oct. 2026 Instead, enslaving Native Americans furthered colonization in a more fundamental, two-pronged way. — Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026 This is true and important, but it's presented in a way that overshadows Washington's lifetime of enslaving. — John Garrison Marks, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026 Soon, Catholic missions and Spanish rancheros sprouted, first attracting local Native peoples and later, enslaving them. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 3 July 2026 Soon, a local businessman (Éric Elmosnino’s Don Emmanuel) is running roughshod over the community, basically enslaving the indigenous population to build a casino. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026 Enslavement or freedom was passed down to the child through the mother, meaning white men could augment a workforce trafficked from Africa by raping with impunity and enslaving their offspring. — Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026 The existential risk of AI wiping out humans or enslaving us could be predicated on our laziness and lack of concern about small signs. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 The story is built around Kitana’s childhood trauma of losing her father to the evil Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford), who has taken over her home realm of Edenia, enslaving her mother as his zombie consort, Sindel (Ana Thu Nguyen). — Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 8 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enslaving

Verb

While serving as a public health official, el Sayed wrote an op-ed in 2019 strongly supporting the Green New Deal, arguing that reducing greenhouse gas emissions will help improve public health.

— Maydeen Merino, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
Together, the tools could help accelerate the development of more resilient electric motor systems while reducing the risks associated with critical material shortages, volatile supply chains and rapidly changing global markets.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of reducing

Verb

Republican Bo French, who previously chaired the Tarrant County GOP, faces Democrat Jon Rosenthal after defeating incumbent Jim Wright in a May Republican primary runoff for the state agency that regulates Texas’ oil and gas industry.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2026
There’s nothing more important than defeating his pathetic opponent, Mike Collins.

— NBC news, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of defeating

Verb

Dark stars are hypothetical primordial stars that, rather than producing energy through nuclear fusion, are instead powered by self-annihilating dark matter within their cores.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026
The accusation works its way through society, annihilating reputations, deservedly or not.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of annihilating

Verb

Others discussed overcoming the initial awkwardness of the work and finding satisfaction in helping doctors become more competent and compassionate.

— Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 18 Oct. 2026
These productions focused on accessibility, particularly for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences, rather than overcoming language barriers.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of overcoming

Verb

For years, Putin has been ideologically committed to subjugating all of Ukraine, attacking and reattacking the country in order to control all of it.

— Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 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 subjugating

Verb

The Tigers bounced back from an overtime loss to Kentucky by crushing Mississippi State (which was missing quarterback Kamario Taylor and running back Fluff Bothwell).

— Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
On the other side, that's a crushing loss for a Nittany Lions team that certainly didn't need any more games going in the loss column.

— Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of crushing

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 whipping

Verb

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
Carter is licking his wounds after the rest of the tribe sent Ana home in a blindside.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of licking

Browse Nearby Words

enslaves

enslaving

ensnare

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Style

“Enslaving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enslaving. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of enslaving

verb

Example Sentences

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