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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Because what was bad for his bank account was fantastic for his creative freedom, liberating Ehrenreich, who had been trapped on the anesthetizing career trajectory that’s a prerequisite for movie stardom, to embrace his wild side.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2026
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If everything went right, the OpenAI founders believed, artificial intelligence could usher in a post-scarcity utopia, automating grunt work, curing cancer, and liberating people to enjoy lives of leisure and abundance.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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He has been freed from jail after posting $50,000 bail and is next due in court at the end of the month.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2026
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At a crowded news conference, boisterous supporters chanted to free Sarsour, recounting his advocacy for those in need.—
Sophia Tareen,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In 2024, the Pentagon released hundreds of reports of unidentified and unexplained aerial phenomena.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
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The cause of the woman's death has not yet been determined, and police have not released her name.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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Colorado law ties teens to their parents unless they can get emancipated by the court.—
Fraidy Reiss,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But in this patient the sun might have triggered somatic mutations that rescued her cells.—
Jerome Groopman,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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The Wall Street Journal added that the airman, who eluded capture for 36 hours and hid in a remote mountain crevice, was rescued by a specialized commando force.—
Joe Dwinell,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Animal Control would have to save about 600 more pets annually to meet that goal.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
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The material is already on-site, saving the museum shipping and insurance costs.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enfranchise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enfranchise. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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