as in to annihilate
to take control of and assert authority over
—usually used as (be) enslaved
Her ancestors were enslaved during the war.
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Recent Examples of enslave
Aponte, a freeman who had once served in the local militia, was part of a group that had sought to launch an uprising among the enslaved.
—
Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
In the months leading up to his capture, at least 18 other people—12 enslaved and six free—were arrested on charges relating to poison, such as its possession or alleged misuse.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
Jones Pierre had typically celebrated Haitian Independence Day with his wife at their home eating soup joumou, a meal enslaved Africans in Haiti were forbidden from eating, to honor the day Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared Haiti’s independence.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 26 Dec. 2025
The two-minute finale offered a riveting display in a nation that prides itself as being founded and enriched by immigrants, alongside an ugly history of enslaving millions of them and limiting who can come in.
—Laurie Kellman, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enslave
Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
In the months leading up to his capture, at least 18 other people—12 enslaved and six free—were arrested on charges relating to poison, such as its possession or alleged misuse.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
Jones Pierre had typically celebrated Haitian Independence Day with his wife at their home eating soup joumou, a meal enslaved Africans in Haiti were forbidden from eating, to honor the day Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared Haiti’s independence.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 26 Dec. 2025
The two-minute finale offered a riveting display in a nation that prides itself as being founded and enriched by immigrants, alongside an ugly history of enslaving millions of them and limiting who can come in.
—Laurie Kellman, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enslave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enslave
Verb
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Indiana’s defense is masterful, a plug-and-play roster that is annihilating opponents without its leading tackler.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
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Cushionaire Platform Ankle Boots These platform ankle boots look shockingly similar to more expensive pairs, but won’t annihilate your holiday gift budget — or your feet on long travel days.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Dec. 2025
Verb
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During his January 2025 State of the State address, Little called for tax cuts that could reduce the state’s general fund by about $100 million.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Jan. 2026
-
To reduce sizes, builders are going back to open floor plans with fewer hallways.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Freshman Anthony Ali Nayab scored six of his nine points in the fourth quarter, including a pair of game-clinching free throws with 25 seconds to play, and Cathedral Catholic overcame an 11-point deficit and edged Mira Mesa 47-45 on Tuesday night in a key Western League game.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
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The researchers do note that Veronika’s environment may have played a role in her skillful use of a tool to overcome limitations.—
Leslie Katz,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The last meeting happened in the NFC championship game in the 2022 season, where the Eagles defeated the Niners 31-7 before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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The Mean Green's best football season ever wasn't even over before the major figures from that team left, or announced their intentions to bounce ASAP; when the season did end, moments after North Texas defeated San Diego State to win the New Mexico Bowl, is when the great Denton flood began.—
Mac Engel Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Arkansas Online,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Not forcing her to go means hurting the other girl, forcing her to go means teaching your daughter that her own comfort should be subjugated to make someone else happy.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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The display features replicas of historical tools used to subjugate communities of color, including an interactive consensus that allows insight into how people would have been categorized over time.—
Sophia Arndt,
Twin Cities,
22 Nov. 2025
Verb
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After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose.—
Megan Sauer
Tasia Jensen,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
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Just hours before Saturday morning’s Shabbat service, flames and smoke licked through the synagogue, destroying at least two Torahs and many prayer books.—
Bracey Harris,
NBC news,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Agents told investigators that one of their colleagues opened fire Thursday after the driver put the truck in reverse and repeatedly slammed into an unoccupied car the agents had rented, smashing its headlights and knocking off its front bumper.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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In witness footage shared by the police, the paraglider is seen falling from the sky with a faulty parachute and spiraling quickly towards the waters below, before smashing into the ocean in front of horrified beachgoers.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Chargers blockers failed to solve a few stunts, The Patriots whipped them on straight-up rushes, too.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
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Absinthe 1 egg white Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake briefly without ice to whip the egg.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enslave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enslave. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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