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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Aronofsky acknowledged fears over the impact of AI on creative industry jobs and human creativity, but suggested that ultimately the technology would liberate artists across all mediums.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
16 May 2026
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Nouvelle cuisine in France had begun to liberate chefs from the tightly wound traditions of French cooking.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Bode and Jake — whose patience with Danny's resistance to being helped is wearing mighty thin — manage to free Danny and relocate to the roof.—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 May 2026
-
Mother’s explosion distracts Blaine and frees Sam.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Shirilla's case is profiled in the Netflix documentary The Crash released this month.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 May 2026
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In other immigration news, a federal grand jury indicted a young man for allegedly ramming federal agents last October, a CPS mom is asking the government to release her son from detention, and Ald.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
Verb
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When Winter was 14 years old, she was placed in the care of her older sister and three years later, she was legally emancipated.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
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Once the Southern Crescent pulled into the station, all trains bound north were emancipated from Jim Crow laws.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
Verb
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The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response said in a statement Sunday evening that 25 birds had been rescued.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2026
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At least 24 construction workers either escaped the building from the ground floor or were rescued in the aftermath of the collapse.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
24 May 2026
Verb
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The President also announced bestowing the Presidential Medal of Freedom on one of my constituents who died on 9/11, Wells Crowther, the man in the red bandana, who saved 18 lives.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 May 2026
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Perhaps we’re meant to understand Tom’s death as his final sacrifice as a soldier, putting himself one more time in harm’s way to save a fellow American.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enfranchise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enfranchise. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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