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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 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
-
During the Iraq War, the popular narrative was that our heroic soldiers and marines were going in to liberate the people, free women, and topple a brutal dictator—the same nonsense we are fed now about Iran.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
That audience members, by virtue of access to a camera, keyboard, and the Internet, can capture, compile, edit, frame, and package an event as news without any regard to journalistic ethics is liberating and constraining at the same time.—
Shepherd Mpofu,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s decision on how to engage with those discussions was shaped in part by the prospect of freeing its prisoners.—
Darlene Superville,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
In an emergency filing, state officials said the high court's decision about Louisiana's congressional map should free Alabama from having to use a map that included a second majority-Black district to comply with the civil rights law.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The city also hasn’t released a calculation of how many new units would be required if SB 79 ends up affecting 52 bus stops instead of four.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
No motive has been released, as of Friday afternoon.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
After mutual suspicion, the two arrived at a reluctant truce in which Paul was free to bring non-Jews into the Jesus movement, emancipating them from Jewish ritual, while the original Jerusalem circle continued to keep kosher, circumcise, and all the rest.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Over 25 Miami-Dade fire crews aided in rescuing the injured, finding some of the 11 in the water.—
Miami Herald,
Sun Sentinel,
10 May 2026
-
Unlike a pig sanctuary or farm where abandoned or abused pigs live out their last days, the group is focused on rescuing, fostering and finding permanent families for pigs.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Hugo Lloris saved two shots for LAFC (6-3-3), which drops to 4-2-1 at home.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
Everyone, save for maybe his pops, was wrong.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enfranchise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enfranchise. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
