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
Artist Sonya Clark explored Hemmings’ presence and absence in the historical record by looking into the eyes of his descendants—those related to him and the hundreds of others enslaved at Monticello, including Jefferson’s own kin.
—Time, 2 June 2026
In this game, the inhabitants of the village of Loom have been enslaved by the evil villain Vex in order to build a device to take over Craftworld.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026
Children were enslaved from birth.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
Although enslaved, these eunuchs were key members of the Mughal royal courts.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
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Time, 2 June 2026
In this game, the inhabitants of the village of Loom have been enslaved by the evil villain Vex in order to build a device to take over Craftworld.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026
Children were enslaved from birth.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
Although enslaved, these eunuchs were key members of the Mughal royal courts.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 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 Jun. 2026.
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