Synonym Chooser

How does the verb emancipate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of emancipate are free, liberate, manumit, and release. While all these words mean "to set loose from restraint or constraint," emancipate implies the liberation of a person from subjection or domination.

labor-saving devices emancipated us from household drudgery

When might free be a better fit than emancipate?

While the synonyms free and emancipate are close in meaning, free implies a usually permanent removal from whatever binds, confines, entangles, or oppresses.

freed the animals from their cages

In what contexts can liberate take the place of emancipate?

The meanings of liberate and emancipate largely overlap; however, liberate stresses particularly the resulting state of liberty.

liberated their country from the tyrant

When could manumit be used to replace emancipate?

The words manumit and emancipate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, manumit implies emancipation from slavery.

the document manumitted the slaves

When would release be a good substitute for emancipate?

In some situations, the words release and emancipate are roughly equivalent. However, release suggests a setting loose from confinement, restraint, or a state of pressure or tension, often without implication of permanent liberation.

released his anger on a punching bag

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of emancipate Additionally, a few months before this vote, the War Department had opened enlistment to the enslaved Americans in the state, and emancipated those who did so. Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 3 Nov. 2024 During Hispanic Heritage Month, the anniversary of the independence of several Latin American countries that emancipated themselves from the Spanish monarchy is celebrated. Paula Soria, The Arizona Republic, 15 Sep. 2024 France was the first European country to emancipate the Jewish people, during the French Revolution, and Jewish street names and quarters can be found across the country. Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Oct. 2024 Founded in 1865, the Freedmen’s Bureau provided aid to recently emancipated slaves. TIME, 5 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for emancipate 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emancipate
Verb
  • Outie Mark loves Gemma, and wants to liberate her from whatever captivity Lumon has placed her in, but Innie Mark’s feelings for Helly continue to bloom.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2025
  • Ukraine liberated the city in November of that year.
    Brian Mann, NPR, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • After Carter was freed, a man who'd taken the then-12 year old under his wing tried to help the boy reunite with his mother.
    Amber Hunt, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2025
  • The Chiefs will have to slide a lot of protections toward Carter, which should free up Williams.
    Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The satellites, group 12-3, will be released in low-Earth orbit to join the growing internet constellation.
    Josh Dinner, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2025
  • The mall operator releases quarterly numbers after the bell Tuesday.
    Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Disaster struck when a team of firefighters trying to rescue two comrades trapped in the building were themselves imperiled by a collapsing wall.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Israeli forces have rescued eight living hostages and recovered the remains of dozens more, at least three of them mistakenly killed by Israeli forces.
    Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy, TIME, 27 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • After the Third Reform Act of 1884, six of 10 adult Englishmen were enfranchised.
    Geoffrey Wheatcroft, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Millions were enfranchised when women got the vote in 1920, but Black women were mostly excluded from voting due to legal discrimination.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 18 Sep. 2024
Verb
  • The Apple iPad mini (2024) is now available for just $399 (saving you a cool hundred bucks).
    Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Kennedy has repeatedly questioned the efficacy and even safety of vaccines touted by most doctors as medical miracles responsible for saving tens of million lives globally.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • What to do: To remove excess hair, cut the hair strands with scissors to loosen them up and pull them out of the brush.
    Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Jan. 2025
  • The clearest way for the White House to loosen rules requiring automakers to make more EVs will be to target vehicle fuel efficiency and tailpipe standards.
    Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Tubman’s father had been manumitted by his owner, but Brodess had inherited Tubman, hiring her and her siblings out to neighbors for seasonal work, whether trapping muskrats or clearing land.
    Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 24 June 2024
  • Grant would manumit his one enslaved servant, William Jones, in 1859.
    Harold Holzer, WSJ, 1 Jan. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near emancipate

Cite this Entry

“Emancipate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emancipate. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on emancipate

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