1
as in servant
a person who is considered the property of another person
many American slaves reached freedom in the North through the network known as the Underground Railroad
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in laborer
a person who does very hard or dull work
unappreciated office slaves who perform the necessary but tedious task of filing paperwork
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to labor
to devote serious and sustained effort
slaving over a hot stove
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slave
Jack Hill, Baltimore Sun, 26 Feb. 2026
The researchers at Native Bound Unbound have uncovered instances of African and Indigenous slaves in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries working side by side in Latin American mines.
—Geraldo Cadava, New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2026
The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Defined by exhaustion from slaving away at the ironing board while confronting the latest family crisis, Angela is quite capable of whipping up baloney sandwiches with mayonnaise for all and functions as a wise-cracking, big-hearted den mother.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slave
Noun
Its docks and alleys, its free Black communities and slave markets, its churches and street corners — this was the laboratory of his conscience.
—Jack Hill, Baltimore Sun, 26 Feb. 2026
The researchers at Native Bound Unbound have uncovered instances of African and Indigenous slaves in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries working side by side in Latin American mines.
—Geraldo Cadava, New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
After two years away on loan while Leeds were slaving away in the second tier, the winger has returned to find his old No 11 shirt in Brenden Aaronson’s possession.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Defined by exhaustion from slaving away at the ironing board while confronting the latest family crisis, Angela is quite capable of whipping up baloney sandwiches with mayonnaise for all and functions as a wise-cracking, big-hearted den mother.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slave
Noun
-
Benedict must pretend his new addition to his mother's household is nothing more to him than a servant.—
Madeline Hirsch,
InStyle,
26 Feb. 2026
-
An army of college servants swept river silt from the courtyards.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For months, Friedmann, always carefully wearing a mask, posed as a laborer and entered the facility.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Construction laborers work on a high rise building in Kolkata on July 23, 2024.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
He was stuck deep in the recesses of shock and grief at the loss of the boy who’d labored by his side for so long, a boy who’d never harmed anyone and who had sat behind the wheel of that silver Saab from sunrise to sundown for the family.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Like some other trade center components, the project labored for years to secure financing and an anchor tenant.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Cole works in the office of a bail bondsman in northern Virginia, the charging document states.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
5 Dec. 2025
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Plus, bail bondsmen are the ultimate local rent seekers.—
Dan Gooding
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
First, famed filmmaker James Cameron endorsed Paramount, saying a Netflix takeover would lead to massive job losses in the entertainment industry, which is already reeling from a production slowdown in Southern California that has disrupted the lives of thousands of film industry workers.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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The Labor Department published a rule Friday that would undo egregious attempts during the last administration to classify more workers as employees rather than independent contractors.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Groceries and warehouse clubs like Sam’s and Costco do flawlessly what many of us struggle to do at home — roast a whole chicken to golden-brown perfection on a rotating spit so that every morsel is cooked evenly and deliciously tender.—
Gretchen McKay,
Twin Cities,
25 Feb. 2026
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Instead, 10 games into his college career, Arenas is struggling mightily with his offensive efficiency.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Before meeting Rael-Gálvez, Daria Celeste Landress had learned while researching her family history that three Indigenous ancestors had been listed in historical documents as chattel, alongside furniture, houses, and trees.—
Geraldo Cadava,
New Yorker,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Harry, whose proper name was Henry, spent 19 years as Fordham’s chattel.—
Eugene Robinson,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Iranians have striven for democracy at least since 1906, when the Constitutional Revolution led to the establishment of our Parliament.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
1 Mar. 2026
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Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse Surrounded by the swirling storms of the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, Billie Jo is striving to survive after a terrible accident takes her mother’s life.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slave. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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