slaves 1 of 2

Definition of slavesnext
plural of slave
1
as in servants
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Several years later, then-President Abraham Lincoln, a member of the Republican Party, issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, freeing all slaves living in Confederate states who were against the Union. Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 29 Mar. 2026 People don't know that the Republicans are the party that freed the slaves. Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026 Jews celebrate the freeing of Israelite slaves from Egypt and Moses guiding them to the Promised Land. Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 28 Mar. 2026 People don’t know that the Republicans are the party that freed the slaves. Jack Dunn, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026 The commodities produced by slaves — sugar, tobacco, rum, and molasses — were shipped back to Europe, making vast amounts of money for British banks and the plantation owners in Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland. Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026 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 Delk’s former slaves, Anthony Frazier and his half-brother Joseph Robards, served in the Union Army before returning to buy land near Rock Springs through the Homestead Act. Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaves
Noun
  • Bogle links the predominance of servants on-screen in the 1930s to the Great Depression.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Yes Through the medium of her extra income, the working wife can equip her house with all modern conveniences and engage capable, trustworthy servants who can adequately take care of her home and family.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 23 Mar. 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
  • Both were huge sums at a time when male farm laborers might make about 28 pounds annually if employed year-round.
    Will Glovinsky, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.
    Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Plus, bail bondsmen are the ultimate local rent seekers.
    Dan Gooding Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • And so the actor and filmmaker ended up donating $250,000 worth of Visa gift cards to TSA workers at the Atlanta airport on March 27.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Quintal, who was transported to Broward Health Medical Center with injuries along with Wilson, was placed on workers’ comp leave.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The 8-episode first season charts the improbable ascent of Joe and Rose Kennedy and their nine children, including rebellious second son Jack, who struggles to escape the shadow of his golden boy older brother.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Loose ends and compelling payoffs await after a subdued and slow-ish first frame that struggles with a balance between dark brooding and uneven lull.
    David John Chávez, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Speaking of government secrets, budget some time for the National Atomic Testing Museum, which strives to educate the public about the Nevada Test Site (now called the Nevada National Security Site).
    Mindy Sink, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Their concierge service strives to provide anything guests may require, from a wellness network of massage therapists to a partnership with a local gym.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The receptionist works behind a period cabinet converted into the sort of desk Philip Marlowe would happily put his feet on and Art Deco ornamentations abound, from the beautiful clocks, to the slightly sinister candlesticks.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The acidic composition of white vinegar works efficiently to break down the film that can accumulate on your windows.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaves. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on slaves

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster