slave 1 of 2

Definition of slavenext
1
as in servant
a person who is considered the property of another person many American slaves reached freedom in the North through the network known as the Underground Railroad

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2
as in laborer
a person who does very hard or dull work unappreciated office slaves who perform the necessary but tedious task of filing paperwork

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slave

2 of 2

verb

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 slave
Noun
In recent years, younger academics increasingly alleged that Wood was too well-established, the epitome of the old-school historian who minimized the lives of slaves, women and Indigenous people. Hillel Italie, Fortune, 9 June 2026 In recent years, younger academics increasingly alleged that Wood was too well-established, the epitome of the old-school historian who minimized the lives of slaves, women and Indigenous people. ABC News, 8 June 2026
Verb
After two years away on loan while Leeds were slaving away in the second tier, the winger has returned to find his old No 11 shirt in Brenden Aaronson’s possession. The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025 Defined by exhaustion from slaving away at the ironing board while confronting the latest family crisis, Angela is quite capable of whipping up baloney sandwiches with mayonnaise for all and functions as a wise-cracking, big-hearted den mother. Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 4 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slave
Noun
  • Dirden played the bombastic Pozzo, a traveler who crosses paths with the pair, while Michael Patrick Thornton portrayed his servant, Lucky.
    Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
  • One is a military veteran who pitches himself as a lifelong civic servant and recently tossed his name in the hat.
    Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • For human crews, this transformation removes them from hazardous sparks and toxic fumes, shifting their roles from manual laborers to supervisors of a faster, tireless robotic workforce.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
  • Then, in a pre-dawn operation, the laborers draped the scaffolding in tarpaulin, before removing the giant metallic letters.
    Frank Langfitt, NPR, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • About 2,700 engineers labored on the project.
    Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
  • Another laboring woman with the same image on her phone.
    Karli Swenson, The Conversation, 11 June 2026
Noun
  • That is the standard set for bringing weapons and cellphones into a secure area, safeguarding department property, monitoring the radio, misusing department letterhead, badges or insignia, secondary employment violations, and recommending bondsmen or attorneys to inmates.
    Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
  • Kim Kardashian, who has advocated for prison reform, paid the bondsman to have Glossip released, her publicist told The Oklahoman.
    Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • Multiple figures within the sport have alleged, under oath, that members of FIFA accepted bribes in exchange for giving the World Cup to Qatar, a nation that has also been accused of facilitating human rights abuses of the migrant workers who built the country’s stadiums.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 June 2026
  • Minsch added that Switzerland’s reliance on highly qualified foreign workers, especially in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, technology and healthcare.
    Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • Caitlin Clark orchestrates offense Clark struggled to find her shooting touch Tuesday, missing 10 of 15 field goal attempts and seven of eight 3-pointers.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • Let’s see who thrives and who struggles now that these two have become ones.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • Men were masters over their women, their chattel, and their emotions.
    Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
  • The law turned human beings into chattel, allowing them to be worked, beaten, sold, raped and killed — and France never formally did away with it.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 May 2026
Verb
  • There are luxury resorts that strive to feel like homes, and then there are homes that accidentally become luxury resorts.
    Arion McNicoll, TheWeek, 15 June 2026
  • Impersonators try to embody the whole character, while tribute artists strive for other types of authenticity, like voice and dress.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 13 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Slave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slave. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

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