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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After more than four years, Russia’s full-scale invasion has morphed into a grinding war of attrition where soldiers are being killed en masse, financial losses are piling up and Kyiv has started to liberate more land than Moscow has seized.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
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Electrons liberated by the Krebs cycle then pass through another set of reactions that consume oxygen.—
Siddhant Pusdekar,
Quanta Magazine,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The second season finale saw Deborah fire Ava to free her up to be her own person and chase her career, only for the two to boomerang back together.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
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Orbit Robotics says its mission isn't to replace astronauts but to free them.—
Omar Kardoudi
May 29,
New Atlas,
29 May 2026
Verb
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An estimate from the British spy agency GCHQ released Wednesday put the total Russian death toll at 500,000, citing new information.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
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The World’s 50 Best Restaurants has released international dining guides since 2002.—
Angela Osorio,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Verb
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The long shadow of the occupation Twenty-three years after George Bush and Tony Blair resolved that Iraqis were to be emancipated, the country remains captive to a masquerade of power.—
Nabil Salih,
Time,
26 May 2026
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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
Verb
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First responders arrived at the scene to try and rescue him, but he was pronounced dead, according to the sheriff's office.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
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The five people who were rescued were in the fifth chamber.—
Jintamas Saksornchai,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Verb
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He is done trying to do the former by going to meetings and trying to save kids who can’t save themselves.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
1 June 2026
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Do this enough times in a season and after a few years, investing in an entry level robotic pool cleaner may actually pay for itself in dollars as well as time saved.—
Brad Moon,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enfranchise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enfranchise. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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