ENSLAVING Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

enslaving

verb

present participle of enslave

as in reducing

to take control of and assert authority over

—usually used as (be) enslaved Her ancestors were enslaved during the war.

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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 enslaving Soon, Catholic missions and Spanish rancheros sprouted, first attracting local Native peoples and later, enslaving them. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 3 July 2026 Soon, a local businessman (Éric Elmosnino’s Don Emmanuel) is running roughshod over the community, basically enslaving the indigenous population to build a casino. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026 Enslavement or freedom was passed down to the child through the mother, meaning white men could augment a workforce trafficked from Africa by raping with impunity and enslaving their offspring. — Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026 The existential risk of AI wiping out humans or enslaving us could be predicated on our laziness and lack of concern about small signs. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 The story is built around Kitana’s childhood trauma of losing her father to the evil Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford), who has taken over her home realm of Edenia, enslaving her mother as his zombie consort, Sindel (Ana Thu Nguyen). — Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 8 May 2026 Some Connecticut towns have brought history out in the open by researching and sharing information about its history with regard to enslaving people. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026 Advertisement Du Bois, for example, published a pageant—a common form for sharing lessons from Washington’s life during his bicentennial—that placed Washington’s enslaving front and center. — John Garrison Marks, Time, 7 Apr. 2026 Aisuru and Kimwolf work by first infecting vulnerable online devices, enslaving them into a network of hijacked computers. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enslaving

Verb

Security analysts speculate that many are willing to talk about their bribes to politicians, in hopes of reducing their sentences.

— Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
The local manufacturing requirement is intended to strengthen Greece’s domestic defence sector while reducing dependence on foreign suppliers over the long term.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 July 2026

Definition of reducing

Verb

Green Bay’s odds of defeating the Bears in its Wild Game were at 96% with 5 minutes left, yet the Packers lost all three of those games.

— Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
But there was another prophecy, and this one said that Odysseus must leave Ithaca again after defeating his enemies.

— Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 24 July 2026

Definition of defeating

Verb

The biggest event in the sporting calendar drew to a close at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey as Spain were crowned world champions for the second time, overcoming Argentina in one of the most dominant finals in recent memory.

— Mark Carey, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Emotional intelligence, particularly self-awareness, is crucial to overcoming it.

— Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of overcoming

Verb

Likewise, meekness once meant not becoming weak, but subjugating power to reason – not letting anger take control.

— Timothy J. Pawl, The Conversation, 23 Feb. 2026
However, once Hernán Cortés triumphed, the conquistadors went from waging war — vanquishing the Aztecs — to the project of subjugating Indigenous holdouts and building a self-sustaining territory loyal to the crown.

— Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026

Definition of subjugating

Verb

Coming off a division title, an 11-6 record, a thrilling playoff win over the rival Packers and a crushing overtime playoff loss to the Rams, the Bears are going to be a hot-button topic over the next six weeks.

— Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Meanwhile Leia’s lost her brother Luke and her great love Han Solo in quick succession, and the general’s trying to rebuild the Resistance after a crushing loss to the evil First Order at the Battle of Crait.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 July 2026

Definition of crushing

Verb

The attorney questioned whether a person would be able to smell alcohol at the same time that wind generated by 18-wheelers and other vehicles whipping by on the highway was blowing, as was occurring during the officer’s time with Hampton.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026
Zeus and Poseidon are at it again—one hurling thunderbolts, the other whipping the sea into a frenzy.

— Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

Definition of whipping

Verb

That means no tasting cookie dough made with raw eggs, no licking brownie batter off the beaters, and no homemade Caesar dressing made with uncooked yolks.

— Angela Haupt, Time, 23 July 2026
Other signs of stress included head shaking, licking its lips, yawning, or scratching behind the ears.

— Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 20 July 2026

Definition of licking

Browse Nearby Words

enslaves

enslaving

ensnare

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“Enslaving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enslaving. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of enslaving

verb

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