SLAVERY Synonyms: 77 Similar and Opposite Words

slavery

noun

ˈslā-v(ə-)rē

Definition of slavery

as in enslavement

the state of being an enslaved person a child born into slavery

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in labor

very hard or unpleasant work endured the slavery of working in the coal mines every day of his adult life

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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 slavery Once Mooney plants the seed of his joke about how unhappy white Americans seemed after slavery the later images of Confederate memorial groups and white crowds at lynchings take on a surreal resonance. — Beandrea July, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026 And what happened with colonialism and slavery, that was an apocalypse. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026 After escaping from slavery in Kentucky, Allensworth joined the Civil War on the Union side, becoming a chaplain and rising to the rank of Colonel. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Six months later, the ratification of the 13th Amendment permanently ended slavery in the United States. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slavery

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slavery

Noun

To truly understand Mason and her transformational impact requires an appreciation of her Christian belief, which sustained her through decades of enslavement and continued to guide her in freedom.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
How did the zombie go from being an emblem of enslavement and loss of autonomy in Haitian Vodou to the favorite flesh-eating grotesquerie of postapocalyptic tales?

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of enslavement

Noun

Council members would also have to waive the city’s 10-day public posting requirement for labor agreements — a move requiring a two-thirds vote.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
The longtime community and labor organizer has been an outspoken progressive voice in the state legislature since she was elected in 2020.

— Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of labor

Noun

The president talked up Jackson and Senate candidate Mike Collins as part of the White House effort to boost GOP enthusiasm in the upcoming elections.

— DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Rowling has been staunchly critical of transgender rights activists, funding legal efforts to protect women’s rights and penning X/Twitter posts that are considered to be attacks by the trans community.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of effort

Noun

Plastic, prefabrication and push-button convenience suggested that mass production could bring elegant, futuristic living — and freedom from drudgery — within reach of the masses.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Because amid the drudgery, Veach spent endless time one-on-one with Reid, including hours of watching video and learning the game through an entirely new lens.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of drudgery

Noun

But their local expertise, connections, courage, and instincts could stave off death or captivity.

— Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Regev directly countered Piker's claims about the October 7 attacks by delivering a harrowing eyewitness account of her captivity in Gaza.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of captivity

Browse Nearby Words

slavers

slavery

slaves

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Style

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

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Synonyms of slavery

noun

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