enslaved; enslaving; enslaves
: to force into or as if into slavery : subjugate
The building holds bronze statues of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, who were born, and enslaved, on Maryland's Eastern Shore.—
Evan Osnos
Evan OsnosIt has long been known that Nordic warriors established outposts more than a millennium ago on Poland's Baltic coast, enslaving indigenous Slavic peoples to supply a booming slave trade, as well trading in salt, amber and other commodities.—Andrew Higgins
Andrew HigginsThis oddly contradictory view of artificial intelligence is somehow a perfect symbol of AI's place in our imaginations at this moment in history—something that will eliminate countless jobs, a boost for creativity, an end to drudgery, or perhaps a monstrous force that will take over our planet and enslave humanity.—Minda Zetlin
Minda Zetlin
enslavement
in-ˈslāv-mənt 
noun
en-
plural enslavements
… the continued enslavement of millions of human beings after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.
—Juan Cole
Juan Cole
sexual/economic enslavement
Examples of enslave in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Black people, kidnapped and enslaved, had none, and as freedom was gained, new laws were written to hold them in place.
—Robert Lloyd, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
Even in the North, these people, formerly enslaved, were not necessarily free, even if slavery was outlawed.
—Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Last month, a memorial honoring people enslaved by George Washington was removed in Philadelphia under an executive order.
—Bryant Reed, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Black people, kidnapped and enslaved, had none, and as freedom was gained, new laws were written to hold them in place.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enslave
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Robert Lloyd, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
Even in the North, these people, formerly enslaved, were not necessarily free, even if slavery was outlawed.
—Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Last month, a memorial honoring people enslaved by George Washington was removed in Philadelphia under an executive order.
—Bryant Reed, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Black people, kidnapped and enslaved, had none, and as freedom was gained, new laws were written to hold them in place.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enslave
Cite this Entry
“Enslave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enslave. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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