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
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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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That should free New England up Saturday to take some chances.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Kerr’s motion offense helped the Warriors become a dynasty by freeing up all-time great jumpshooters Curry and Klay Thompson, but some in the organization believe the offensive attack is too open to 3-point variance, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Anthony Slater.—
Michael Nowels,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Patriots lost K’Lavon Chaisson in free agency and released edge defender Anfernee Jennings.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
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With micro-dramas, if audiences don’t respond on the day a title is released, the social-media algorithm stops promoting it, and Zhou immediately changes what he green-lights.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
25 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 25 Apr. 2026.
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