enslaved; enslaving; enslaves
: to force into or as if into slavery : subjugate
The building holds bronze statues of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, who were born, and enslaved, on Maryland's Eastern Shore.—
Evan Osnos
Evan OsnosIt has long been known that Nordic warriors established outposts more than a millennium ago on Poland's Baltic coast, enslaving indigenous Slavic peoples to supply a booming slave trade, as well trading in salt, amber and other commodities.—Andrew Higgins
Andrew HigginsThis oddly contradictory view of artificial intelligence is somehow a perfect symbol of AI's place in our imaginations at this moment in history—something that will eliminate countless jobs, a boost for creativity, an end to drudgery, or perhaps a monstrous force that will take over our planet and enslave humanity.—Minda Zetlin
Minda Zetlin
enslavement
in-ˈslāv-mənt 
noun
en-
… the continued enslavement of millions of human beings after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.
—Juan Cole
Juan Cole
sexual/economic enslavement
enslaver
noun
plural enslavers
British goods were shipped to Africa to be exchanged for enslaved captives, who were sold to enslavers in British colonies …
—Matthew Stallard and Aamna Mohdin
Matthew Stallard and Aamna Mohdin
Examples of enslave in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mary Ann’s mother, Henrietta Steptoe, was born in 1779 on the Stratford Hall plantation in Westmoreland County, Va., where she was enslaved by Philip Lee.
—James Johnston, Washington Post, 24 June 2024
The Freedom Monument Sculpture Park honors the millions of people who were enslaved in the United States and their descendants’ ongoing fight for equality.
—Victor Blackwell, CNN, 19 June 2024
Juneteenth marks the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when Union troops announced that more than 250,000 Black Americans in Texas were no longer enslaved, years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 18 June 2024
For types of reparations, the task force is recommending the district pay students whose ancestors were enslaved for educational purposes, though that could be defined broadly to cover vital living costs like housing.
—Sierra Lopez, The Mercury News, 13 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for enslave 
James Johnston, Washington Post, 24 June 2024
The Freedom Monument Sculpture Park honors the millions of people who were enslaved in the United States and their descendants’ ongoing fight for equality.
—Victor Blackwell, CNN, 19 June 2024
Juneteenth marks the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when Union troops announced that more than 250,000 Black Americans in Texas were no longer enslaved, years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 18 June 2024
For types of reparations, the task force is recommending the district pay students whose ancestors were enslaved for educational purposes, though that could be defined broadly to cover vital living costs like housing.
—Sierra Lopez, The Mercury News, 13 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for enslave
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enslave.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Enslave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enslave. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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