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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slave
Terry Tang, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Celebrated on June 19, Juneteenth marks when the last Black slaves of the Confederacy were ordered free following the arrival of Union troops.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 18 June 2026
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
Noun
For European and American slave traders, iron shackles were seen simply as tools that helped run the transatlantic slave trade.
—Terry Tang, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Celebrated on June 19, Juneteenth marks when the last Black slaves of the Confederacy were ordered free following the arrival of Union troops.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 18 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
-
Michelangelo’s to-do lists, on the other hand, were really get-the-servant-to-do lists.—
Patricia Marx,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
-
Robin is all but accused of being a runaway servant; Franklin had indeed broken his indenture to his older brother.—
John Swansburg,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
Noun
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For American diners of diverse backgrounds, chop suey struck an enticing balance between novelty and decipherability, which propelled it to national popularity even as the US government moved to exclude Chinese laborers from entering the country in 1882.—
Ashley Rose Young,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 June 2026
-
Filipino laborers came to Mexico via colonialism, and adapted and adopted champoy with spices and chilies from Mexico to become chamoy.—
Stephanie Shih
June 17,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Mercurius began laboring in the third and left after Hull's second homer of the CWS and ninth of the season leading off the fifth.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 June 2026
-
The British Parliament had built restrictions into the freedom edict to guarantee the enslaved and newly free would continue laboring, either for poverty wages or to repay bottomless debt.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
Noun
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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
-
In reality, though, most workers don’t get to retire on their own terms.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
-
Protests, backed by workers unions, farmers and supporters of former President Evo Morales, are demanding Paz resign.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
Verb
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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
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Born in Brooklyn, NY, on April 4, 1932, Davis was a striving student who attended New York University on a full scholarship, and graduated magna cum laude.—
Chris Morris,
Variety,
22 June 2026
-
Nolan seems to be striving for geographic realism interspersed with violent and fantastic episodes.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slave. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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