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
The formerly enslaved took the promise of emancipation to create an admirable lifestyle of excellence through the rearing of horses.
—
James Edward Mills, Outside, 25 Nov. 2025
What about those who were enslaved?
—JSTOR Daily, 25 Nov. 2025
Some ant species kidnap the colony’s offspring and enslave them.
—CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025
In the Dred Scott case, of 1857, the Supreme Court supplied one, ruling that no person of African descent, free or enslaved, could be an American citizen.
—Rachel Morris, New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enslave
James Edward Mills, Outside, 25 Nov. 2025
What about those who were enslaved?
—JSTOR Daily, 25 Nov. 2025
Some ant species kidnap the colony’s offspring and enslave them.
—CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025
In the Dred Scott case, of 1857, the Supreme Court supplied one, ruling that no person of African descent, free or enslaved, could be an American citizen.
—Rachel Morris, New Yorker, 14 Nov. 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
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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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Samsung says these structural improvements allow the HP5 to overcome traditional low-light limitations.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
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Vance’s second biggest battle is overcoming political history, which statistically does not favor incumbent vice presidents’ chances of winning the White House.—
Myra Adams,
Washington Post,
9 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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The Spanish subjugated and enslaved the indigenous population of the Canaries—the Guanches—exporting some of them to Madeira or Europe, while others were forced to labor on Canarian sugar plantations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
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How could the woman who wrote so piercingly about women’s subjugation subjugate herself to not just one but two men?—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Weir picked up his first guitar licks from David Nelson and future Jefferson Airplane member Jorma Kaukonen.—
Richard Gehr,
Rolling Stone,
10 Jan. 2026
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Other photos showed Owen proudly licking the faces of his owners and getting some hugs and pats from the reality star, her husband and children.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The conservative impulse — skepticism of sweeping change, respect for traditions, wariness of unintended consequences — can prevent politics from becoming a moral joyride that smashes against the guardrails and calls it courage.—
Robert T.F. Downes,
Hartford Courant,
6 Jan. 2026
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As Hodges stood there, scared and vulnerable, the man grabbed his baton and bashed him on the head with it, rupturing his lip and smashing his skull.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There were some frightening moments early Monday for a Miramar man after police say he was pistol whipped during a home invasion and his French bulldog was stolen.—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
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Or whips around his defender in a bold pirouette.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enslave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enslave. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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