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

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 This visit comes as the debate over Britain’s colonial past, slavery, and calls for economic reparations continues to take center stage in relations between London and several Caribbean nations. — Ilaria Perrotta, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026 The work in question is German painter Carl Gottlieb Peschel’s Joseph Sold by His Brothers (1831), which shows the biblical scene of Joseph being sold into slavery in Egypt. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 27 Oct. 2026 In the end, of course, the opponents of slavery were victorious. — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 Seventy-one percent of assessed companies had published modern slavery statements. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slavery

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slavery

Noun

He was born into enslavement in Edgefield District, South Carolina, bound by laws that forbade Black literacy.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Anyone arguing otherwise either believes in human enslavement, has no grasp of history, or suffers from both afflictions.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of enslavement

Noun

Robots were already offered up as part of China’s domestic answer to aging, labor shortages, and future care needs.

— Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
At the sewing line, a conventional cotton T-shirt requires eight person-minutes of direct labor across its sewing operations, according to Silana co-founder Michael Hofmannrichter.

— Jessica Binns, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of labor

Noun

The $60 million ceiling covers a three-year development effort, but the announcement does not establish a final procurement value.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Over the past two months, amid efforts to find what could be more than $20 billion to recapitalize insurance funds, Walter has sold his controlling interest in the Lakers and a minority share of Chelsea, the English Premier League club.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of effort

Noun

In 1987, biologists captured the last free-flying condor to transfer it to captivity, and the largest flying North American bird species was officially declared extinct in the wild.

— David Ginsburg, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
But their local expertise, connections, courage, and instincts could stave off death or captivity.

— Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of captivity

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slavers

slavery

slaves

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“Slavery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slavery. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of slavery

noun

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