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 Trammell was enslaved in northern Virginia before gaining his freedom in the 1850s, according to Bunch. — Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 1 July 2026 English colonists from Barbados and Bermuda settled in the region during that time, bringing with them enslaved Africans with their own abundant culinary heritage. — Amethyst Ganaway, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026 Starting in the seventeenth century, Spanish colonists enslaved Africans and brought them to the coffee and cocoa plantations that were concentrated in the area. — Armando Ledezma, New Yorker, 30 June 2026 Her refusal to sugarcoat the interior and exterior lives of her characters, whether enslaved or traumatized by the past — by events in American history — was purposeful. — Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for enslave

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enslave

Verb

Instead, El Fasher was annihilated.

— Janine di Giovanni, Vanity Fair, 25 June 2026
Chess is about annihilating your opponent.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 June 2026

Definition of annihilate

Verb

Derived from a Central African shrub, the drug's ability to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings were uncovered by accident, when Howard Lotsof, a 19-year old addicted to heroin, tried ibogaine out of curiosity in 1962.

— Gavin Escott, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Displaying tactical discipline and superior talent, the English national team defeated Mexico 3-2 with a lineup reduced to 10 men on Sunday night.

— Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

Definition of reduce

Verb

The rookie point guard overcame early shooting struggles to lead all scorers with 25 points.

— Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026
The telecommunications giant’s fight to end landline service is playing out in the FCC and federal court, amid an underlying battle over how much power the agency has to overcome decisions by states.

— Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 4 July 2026

Definition of overcome

Verb

Egypt defeated Australia 4-2 in a penalty-kick shootout Friday after the teams played to a 1-1 tie after 120 minutes in Arlington, Texas.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
The short version is that after defeating the Kilrathi at the climax of Wing Commander 3, Mark Hamill’s Christopher Blair retires to a backwater world to live out a life in peace and obscurity.

— Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 3 July 2026

Definition of defeat

Verb

In a country like India, subjugated early in the history of capitalist imperialism, and then bullied after independence by the West, a degree of self-renunciation and collective sacrifice was widely understood to be requisite to economic and political self-strengthening.

— Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
This campy, reality-shifting comedy series questions what would happen if a flaming misogynist woke up in a world that was completely matriarchal and subjugated men based on their gender.

— Madeleine Janz, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026

Definition of subjugate

Verb

The Marlins smashed 12 home runs against the A’s, their most ever in a three-game series.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Djokovic became so frustrated that he was given a code violation warning for smashing a racket, before eventually hauling himself over the line.

— Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of smash

Verb

Scotland carried the ball for 13 phases to enter Argentina's 22 and Hutchinson whipped an accurate long pass to Tuipulotu on the right wing who scored untouched.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Olise kept his intentions hidden to the last, shaping up to cross the ball to the back post before sharply turning his hips and whipping his pass into the goalscorer’s path, breaking two defensive lines along the way.

— Thom Harris, New York Times, 4 July 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 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of enslave

verb

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