[go: up one dir, main page]

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
Originally a Dutch vessel, the Zorg had been captured by a British captain and heavily overloaded with slaves. The Week Uk, TheWeek, 8 Jan. 2026 In the subsequent testimony, Médor claimed that the only way to stop these poisonings was for enslavers to stop promising slaves their estate would free them after their death. Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026 Edith Renfrow Smith, the granddaughter of slaves, died at the age of 111. Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register, 5 Jan. 2026 Its closest rival is what historians call the Dependency, a stone building behind the main house that likely housed the slaves who built it. Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 4 Jan. 2026 Even with Lincoln’s executive order proclaiming freedom for the slaves, the practice continued until the war was completed. Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026 The cowboy was named after slaves who handled the cows. Essence, 30 Dec. 2025 While The Handmaid’s Tale followed the women whose lives were upended by the enshrinement of totalitarian fascism, forcing them to become baby-making slaves, The Testaments is a coming-of-age story of girls whose only understanding of life is the grim reality of Gilead. Lucy Ford, Time, 27 Dec. 2025 Johnson, whose parents were former slaves, fled the country to fight abroad for several years after he was convicted and sentenced on racially motivated federal charges. Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaves
Noun
  • The journalists who rushed to the scene managed to jot down the names of about a dozen—the VIPs (there were three members of parliament on the train that day, which was a factor in the disaster) and a couple of servants.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Some of the girls were hired as servants in the homes of higher-status Burghers, though Rustin refused on principle to consider it.
    George Packer, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Mayor Bass also secured 17 positions for supply and maintenance staffing, including heavy-duty mechanics, mechanic helpers, tire repairers, maintenance laborers, toolroom workers, truck operators and more.
    Jeff Nguyen, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Another report from the Bay Area Council Economic Institute estimated that 14% of California’s overall construction workforce is undocumented, including more than one in every four construction laborers.
    Kyung Lah, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Plus, bail bondsmen are the ultimate local rent seekers.
    Dan Gooding Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • That measure, pushed by SEIU-UHW, a labor union representing many of the state’s health care workers, would impose a 5% tax on people with $1 billion or more in assets.
    Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
  • An analysis by the National Association of Home Builders estimates tens of thousands of homes aren't being completed because there aren't enough workers.
    Kenny Choi, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Haunted by her own traumas and hidden scars, Kitts struggles to piece together the clues and separate Raevyn’s madness from an even more troubling reality.
    News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
  • The chain’s anniversary comes as the restaurant industry struggles with declining traffic.
    Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Through educational programs, community outreach and strategic resource management, the district strives to ensure sustainable groundwater supply for current and future generations.
    Claire Marks, Austin American Statesman, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Zermatt strives to be a high-class mountain resort, but for active guests.
    Rick Steves, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • These Hokas are the rare travel shoe that works across all ages, activity levels, and destinations.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
  • The company works closely with mental health professionals to ensure its technology aligns with clinical practice rather than replacing it.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaves. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on slaves

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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