slaves 1 of 2

plural of slave
1
as in bondsmen
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 laborers
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

slaves

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of slave

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 slaves
Noun
Douglass is not victim of some faint-hearted anxiety about the use of force to free slaves, and to dispatch those who would threaten their freedom or their lives. Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025 But every lower court that has looked at the issue has concluded that Trump’s order violates or likely violates the 14th Amendment, which was intended to ensure that Black people, including former slaves, had citizenship. Preston Fore, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2025 As a young boy growing up in Seville—he was born in 1484—Bartolomé had witnessed the glory heaped on Columbus upon his return from his first cross-Atlantic voyage and heard the stories of islands filled with gold, spices, and potential slaves. Greg Grandin september 23, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025 In the Revolutionary War itself, Britain’s Lord Dunmore had emancipated large numbers of southern slaves as a war measure—a fact well-known in both the 1770s and the 1860s. Akhil Reed Amar, Time, 22 Sep. 2025 In Joseon society, both faced systematic oppression – the seoja class was barred from government positions, while slaves, comprising up to 60% of the population, were bound for life along with their children. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Sep. 2025 Also set to be removed from public view is information at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park in West Virginia, where abolitionist John Brown led a raid with the intention of arming slaves for a revolt. News Desk, Artforum, 18 Sep. 2025 The law forced people in northern states to aid in returning escaped slaves or face imprisonment and/or a fine. La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 17 Sep. 2025 There were slaves and there were captives in the West. Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaves
Noun
  • This structure, along with Structure II (likely a checkpoint or guard post), was part of the police and guard infrastructure surrounding the laborers’ settlements.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
  • In the manufacturing, construction and electrical trades, there's a dearth of talent as skilled laborers age out of the workforce without being replaced by younger workers.
    Kate Rogers, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • If dogs are our servants, cats are our shadows.
    Rebecca van Laer September 30, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Of those who stay, more than eighty per cent work in the informal sector—as domestic servants, street hawkers, porters, cleaners.
    Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Portugal has been a hotspot for digital nomads, luring foreign remote workers with friendly visa policies, a better quality of life, and a lower cost of living.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Masses of federal workers face going unpaid until funding is restored.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Sarr struggles to finish shots through contact against heavier bigs.
    Josh Robbins, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Forced to become a bloodsucker as part of Bill's punishment for vanquishing another, Deborah Ann Woll's Jessica struggles with her new, flesh-craving lifestyle.
    Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Plus, bail bondsmen are the ultimate local rent seekers.
    Dan Gooding Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • How Democrats fare in efforts to reclaim the governor's office could preview a national pattern and influence party strategies as the GOP strives to maintain control of the House and Senate while Democrats push for significant gains after a disappointing 2024.
    Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Years after Air Force Combat Controller John Chapman fought to the death to save his fellow soldiers, an intelligence officer strives to prove his valor — leading an investigation that ultimately would secure him the Medal of Honor.
    Justin Kroll, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Smart nutrition management all through the season always works better than trying to achieve stunning results with last minute fertilizer fixes.
    Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Holding his hand helps calm him down (a magic touch that works well with real kids, too).
    Pamela Brill, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaves. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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