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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to labor
to devote serious and sustained effort
slaving over a hot stove
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slave
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2025
McClennen talked about attitudes in the 19th century by noting that some rare minerals in cellphones come from workers in slave conditions.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 4 Aug. 2025
However, the worse the prison’s conditions become — as the workers are forced to slave away on secret Death Star parts with no promise of release — the more Kino is pushed to join Cassian and his brewing prisoner revolt.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slave
Noun
Sarah and her former slave Hagar; Sarah’s great-niece Rebekah; and Rebekah’s nieces, sisters Leah and Rachel.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2025
McClennen talked about attitudes in the 19th century by noting that some rare minerals in cellphones come from workers in slave conditions.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
However, the worse the prison’s conditions become — as the workers are forced to slave away on secret Death Star parts with no promise of release — the more Kino is pushed to join Cassian and his brewing prisoner revolt.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slave
Noun
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Since Julia’s arrival at Castle Leathers, Davina Porter (Sara Vickers), the long-time servant of Lord Lovat and the mother of Brian, has suspected that Julia is pregnant.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
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The first such center was established in Taylor, Michigan, with others eventually popping up in Florida, Texas and Missouri — all of them making money off the backs of servants who allegedly were forced to work for free.—
Tresa Baldas,
Freep.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, blue-collar or trade laborers are expected to remain essential.—
Eyal Lifshitz,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
On the Mauser Packaging Solutions plant floor, laborers do the dirty work of reconditioning steel containers used to transport chemicals.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Some of the works would be labored over and over and over again.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
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During that season Clark was laboring to teach all his defensive linemen a new technique to use, and players would have to film themselves working on it, and send it into the coaches.—
Omar Kelly
August 23,
Miami Herald,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
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After my long flight home, I was relieved that the late-night visitor turned out to be nothing more than city workers on the job (and their job in this case, while surprising, didn't turn out to be too destructive).—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
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After California’s deal with Uber and Lyft, other states have moved forward with similar attempts to allow workers to unionize.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After struggling in the first half, running back Jerrod Wiley got loose on an untouched 69-yard touchdown run on the first play of the next drive to put Heritage back up two scores at 30-21.—
Jordan Neal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Sep. 2025
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An ugly sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates sunk their struggling offense to new depths and at least temporarily removed Will Smith from the equation.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Plus, bail bondsmen are the ultimate local rent seekers.—
Dan Gooding
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Aug. 2025
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Such a bond limits a defendant from relying on a bail bondsman and the use of collateral.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Now retired, Andra loved her job working for the federal government and strives to make a difference in the world around her.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
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Businesses are striving to do more with less, cutting entry-level roles and striving for AI automation to save on headcount costs.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Only a racist would dare to defend or dismiss slavery, which stripped Africans of human rights and enslaved them as chattel to pick cotton on Southern plantations.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Aug. 2025
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Laws intended to prevent excessive exploitation went mostly unenforced in the rural northwest, allowing the continuation of what was virtually a chattel system in which workers could be bought, sold, and transported freely.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slave. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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