as in to liberate
to set free (as from slavery or confinement)
in a way, modern labor-saving appliances enfranchised people, giving them much more leisure time
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Recent Examples of enfranchise
About a year after the infirmary team returned to the United States, the 19th Amendment became law, enfranchising 27 million women, the largest expansion of voting rights in American history.
—
Amy Sohn, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
Some other states specifically prohibit localities from enfranchising noncitizens.
—Jennifer Peltz, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025
Thus enfranchised, Hackman took on Richard Harris’ elegant killer English Bob with gusto, mixing in a bravura oratorical gavotte with ample kicks to the ribs, and summoning the Best Supporting Actor trophy.
—Fred Schruers, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2025
After the Third Reform Act of 1884, six of 10 adult Englishmen were enfranchised.
—Geoffrey Wheatcroft, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enfranchise
Amy Sohn, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
Some other states specifically prohibit localities from enfranchising noncitizens.
—Jennifer Peltz, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025
Thus enfranchised, Hackman took on Richard Harris’ elegant killer English Bob with gusto, mixing in a bravura oratorical gavotte with ample kicks to the ribs, and summoning the Best Supporting Actor trophy.
—Fred Schruers, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2025
After the Third Reform Act of 1884, six of 10 adult Englishmen were enfranchised.
—Geoffrey Wheatcroft, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enfranchise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enfranchise
Verb
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Maybe Lakers players felt liberated by not having to deal with the big guy.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
-
In December 2025, the Khartiia Corps led a counterattack in the Kupiansk direction, liberating several villages north of the city and pushing to the Oskil River.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There was no sign former leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be freed or if the pardon would include the thousands of political detainees imprisoned for opposing military rule.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
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That said, a small portion of inventory was strategically reserved by both networks in anticipation of a hot scatter market; when freed up, those units are expected to be the most valuable buys on the summer sports calendar.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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If Bluey uses a wand of asparagus to transform her father into a walrus, her father will behave exactly like a walrus until released from the spell.—
Jean Garnett,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
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The Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed just one of the deaths Friday evening, but did not release the identity.—
William Lee,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After mutual suspicion, the two arrived at a reluctant truce in which Paul was free to bring non-Jews into the Jesus movement, emancipating them from Jewish ritual, while the original Jerusalem circle continued to keep kosher, circumcise, and all the rest.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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His new psychological thriller follows a woman, played by Molly Windsor, who is attempting to emancipate herself from a religious cult.—
Madeleine Janz,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Cutesy anecdotes alternated with triumphs and tragedies—a school district rescued from a ransomware gang, an iPad salvaged from a plane crash.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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Another skier was rescued Sunday after sustaining a knee injury in the Lindley Hut area, according to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But although the two films have imminent solar catastrophes at their core, their approaches to saving the world from extreme global cooling are radically different.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
19 Apr. 2026
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This season has been less of a fairy tale, featuring some tough stretches, a so-so showing in the Olympics and far fewer goals saved above expected.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enfranchise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enfranchise. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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