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
Trump has argued that the amendment, ratified in 1868, was intended to confer citizenship to the children of slaves. Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026 In exchange, India exported commodities like cotton cloth, indigo, silk, sugar, slaves, spices, and medicines, including opium. Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 20 Mar. 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
  • The latter is less of a mother to Agnes than Rosa (Kira Guloien), one of the household’s many Marthas (put-upon domestic servants).
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Her house is immense and kept in immaculate condition by her family’s servants (the Marthas).
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In 2024, only 18% of construction laborers and 8% of retail workers in California were represented by a union.
    Nicole Macias Garibay, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
  • In their latest motion, Zeigler’s attorneys say that Marques’ and other judges over the years have overlooked Felton Thomas and Edward Williams — two Black laborers who testified against Zeigler at his 1976 trial — as culprits.
    Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Lamarck surely labored over these Romantic effusions.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Texas starter Dylan Volantis labored through a long first inning, but a pop-out to catcher Carson Tinney stranded two runners on base.
    Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • In Florida, a defendant usually pays 10% of the total bond amount to a bondsman to bail out of jail.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Cole works in the office of a bail bondsman in northern Virginia, the charging document states.
    Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 5 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Chats with friends and co-workers alike can do a lot to improve the flow of your schedule.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026
  • The two started out at the YMCA as community health workers and went back at least a decade.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Perhaps those June friendlies in Florida will give him one more chance to experiment, but the simple reality is that any Kane-less plan will struggle to get off the ground.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The waiver was established by the TEA to provide additional flexibility to go out of state to find qualified leaders to right the ships of struggling districts.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • These are human beings, not chattel.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Before meeting Rael-Gálvez, Daria Celeste Landress had learned while researching her family history that three Indigenous ancestors had been listed in historical documents as chattel, alongside furniture, houses, and trees.
    Geraldo Cadava, New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The company strives to be a good neighbor and is mindful of the importance of ensuring residents have clear and safe access in and out of their homes throughout the day.
    Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Alejandra Flores, the school Wellness Space support specialist, said the district strives to support mental health and provides wellness resources for the community, including students, staff and parents.
    Abigail Min, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Slave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slave. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

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