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
Historical accounts and later academic research describe him as enslaving hundreds of Native Americans, forcing Indigenous people to labor at the fort and punishing or pursuing those who attempted to flee.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Last month, the National Park Service removed an exhibit in Philadelphia about nine people enslaved by George Washington.
—Aida Mogos, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
History restored in Philadelphia Several signs and displays honoring nine people who were enslaved by George Washington were put back in place on Thursday, after a federal judge in Philadelphia ordered the National Park Service and Department of Interior to replace them.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
When his wife was moved to Texas, the free Yates volunteered to become re-enslaved in order to join his family.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enslave
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Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Last month, the National Park Service removed an exhibit in Philadelphia about nine people enslaved by George Washington.
—Aida Mogos, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
History restored in Philadelphia Several signs and displays honoring nine people who were enslaved by George Washington were put back in place on Thursday, after a federal judge in Philadelphia ordered the National Park Service and Department of Interior to replace them.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
When his wife was moved to Texas, the free Yates volunteered to become re-enslaved in order to join his family.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 23 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 4 Mar. 2026.
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