1
as in emancipation
the act of setting free from slavery
the Emancipation Proclamation was merely the first step in the full enfranchisement of African-Americans
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Recent Examples of enfranchisement
Many claim that with the abolition of slavery and the enfranchisement of women, and many other new laws like civil rights legislation and changing gender norms, there has been great progress.
—
Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025
In theory, this transition inaugurates a chapter of enfranchisement, but in the next scene the Senegalese businessmen are in suits, and the white men return with briefcases full of money as bribes.
—Lovia Gyarkye, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025
In theory, this transition inaugurates a chapter of enfranchisement, but in the next scene the Senegalese businessmen are in suits, and the white men return with briefcases full of money as bribes.
—Lovia Gyarkye, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enfranchisement
Noun
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Dozens of publications, signs, plaques, and booklets were identified, including those referencing how light pollution affects sea turtles, booklets on emancipation and the cause of the Civil War, and the catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Dorian in 2019.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
11 Mar. 2026
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What followed was emancipation without resources and citizenship without enforcement.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Marcus points out that the leaders of the women’s suffrage movement didn’t always see eye to eye.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
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From the suffrage movement and the civil rights era to today’s debates over voting access, expanding democracy has required women to confront entrenched power.—
Celina Stewart,
Time,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Ferrer was finally released last year but sent into exile in the United States as a condition for his liberation.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
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Later this month, the Jewish community will celebrate Passover, a holiday that commemorates the liberation of Jewish people from enslavement in ancient Egypt.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enfranchisement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enfranchisement. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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