as in slaves
a person in the past who belonged to a low social class and who lived and worked on land owned by another person
Medieval serfs who tended land owned by a lord.
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Recent Examples of serfs
Slaves, serfs, peasants, and wage workers mostly understood that what was being struck was a hammer blow on their behalf.
—
Jack Sheehan
september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Jack Sheehan
september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for serfs
Noun
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Even during his lifetime, Washington faced criticism for holding slaves.—
John Garrison Marks,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
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Newsom has thrown himself behind progressive stances on affirmative action, crime, and reparations, having recently signed a bill to create an agency that will deliver restitution to the descendants of slaves.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Among these servants are ones who pass laws to make my life a bit safer or just.—
Chris John Amorosino,
Hartford Courant,
30 Jan. 2026
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Amongst the servants, meanwhile, a hierarchy based on standing and rank also dictated living conditions like proximity to the family and who got to eat dinner first.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Serfs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serfs. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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