ENSLAVING Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

enslaving

verb

present participle of enslave

as in reducing

to take control of and assert authority over

—usually used as (be) enslaved Her ancestors were enslaved during the war.

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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 enslaving This is true and important, but it's presented in a way that overshadows Washington's lifetime of enslaving. — John Garrison Marks, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026 Soon, Catholic missions and Spanish rancheros sprouted, first attracting local Native peoples and later, enslaving them. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 3 July 2026 Soon, a local businessman (Éric Elmosnino’s Don Emmanuel) is running roughshod over the community, basically enslaving the indigenous population to build a casino. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026 Enslavement or freedom was passed down to the child through the mother, meaning white men could augment a workforce trafficked from Africa by raping with impunity and enslaving their offspring. — Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026 The existential risk of AI wiping out humans or enslaving us could be predicated on our laziness and lack of concern about small signs. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 The story is built around Kitana’s childhood trauma of losing her father to the evil Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford), who has taken over her home realm of Edenia, enslaving her mother as his zombie consort, Sindel (Ana Thu Nguyen). — Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 8 May 2026 Some Connecticut towns have brought history out in the open by researching and sharing information about its history with regard to enslaving people. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026 Advertisement Du Bois, for example, published a pageant—a common form for sharing lessons from Washington’s life during his bicentennial—that placed Washington’s enslaving front and center. — John Garrison Marks, Time, 7 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enslaving

Verb

According to a news release, the program will track attendance and behavioral data with the primary goals being to improve school attendance and student grades while potentially reducing psychiatric hospitalizations.

— Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
That could lower capital and operating costs while reducing safety risks during production.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of reducing

Verb

DeSoto won the Class 6A Division II state championship last season, defeating Southlake Carroll in the state semifinals.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Aug. 2026
Boise State started the season 1-1, losing 42-21 to Central Michigan before defeating Portland State 33-22 in a pair of nonconference games.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of defeating

Verb

Dark stars are hypothetical primordial stars that, rather than producing energy through nuclear fusion, are instead powered by self-annihilating dark matter within their cores.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026
The accusation works its way through society, annihilating reputations, deservedly or not.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of annihilating

Verb

Curaçao went unbeaten in the double-elimination tournament before overcoming an early two-run deficit to the team from Henderson, Nevada.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Instead of focusing on adventurous missions like PAW Patrol, Super Monsters emphasizes the more emotional aspects of childhood, like overcoming shyness, being a good friend, and learning from your mistakes.

— Kara Nesvig, Parents, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of overcoming

Verb

Every administration has its own policy agenda and preferences, but this goes beyond that, subjugating science to partisanship and holding research and infrastructure money hostage throughout much of the country.

— David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026
Likewise, meekness once meant not becoming weak, but subjugating power to reason – not letting anger take control.

— Timothy J. Pawl, The Conversation, 23 Feb. 2026

Definition of subjugating

Verb

Consider each target wounded by crushing knockdowns and then killed by piggy-backers, irrespective of the quality of the quarter.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
The writer compared the collapse of civil society to a boulder rolling downhill, crushing things in its path.

— KANIS LEUNG, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of crushing

Verb

Two months later, the couple went Instagram official, as the SKIMS founder was featured in a video which showed the F1 driver whipping around in his Ferrari F40 at the Daikoku Parking Area in Tokyo, Japan.

— Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Mercedes removed Willow’s cat, but Willow answered by whipping Mercedes with the AEW Women’s World Championship belt.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of whipping

Verb

One act featured two young women sitting on the stage and licking orange Popsicles (yes, that was the whole act).

— Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Owners should also watch for licking that is sudden, persistent or severe enough to cause hair loss or skin damage.

— Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of licking

Browse Nearby Words

enslaves

enslaving

ensnare

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“Enslaving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enslaving. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of enslaving

verb

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