as in to liberate
to set free (as from slavery or confinement)
in a way, modern labor-saving appliances enfranchised people, giving them much more leisure time
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Recent Examples of enfranchise
But as long as China refuses to enfranchise the general public to monitor administrative measures, upper-level bureaucratic actors will continue to be foiled in their efforts by their subordinates.
—
Yanzhong Huang, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2011
The Fifteenth Amendment enfranchised Black men, implicitly creating a bloc of voters to counterbalance the power of former Confederates in the South.
—Jelani Cobb, The New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2024
In the 1960s, another wave of reform enfranchised Black Americans and swept away legally enforced racial segregation.
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023
But the United States has trended toward eventually enfranchising felons who have completed their sentences.
—Shera Avi-Yonah, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for enfranchise 
Yanzhong Huang, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2011
The Fifteenth Amendment enfranchised Black men, implicitly creating a bloc of voters to counterbalance the power of former Confederates in the South.
—Jelani Cobb, The New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2024
In the 1960s, another wave of reform enfranchised Black Americans and swept away legally enforced racial segregation.
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023
But the United States has trended toward eventually enfranchising felons who have completed their sentences.
—Shera Avi-Yonah, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for enfranchise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enfranchise
Verb
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Going after the protections of the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to Black American liberated from slavery by the Union Army in the Civil War, is a terrible way to bring reform to immigration, which surely needed reforming.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
21 Jan. 2025
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By the 30th, Uranus will station direct, bringing unexpected shifts and surprises to your love life, as this electric synergy could open doors to new ways of thinking or fresh, liberating connections that challenge your usual type.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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After Carter was freed, a man who'd taken the then-12 year old under his wing tried to help the boy reunite with his mother.—
Amber Hunt,
USA TODAY,
28 Jan. 2025
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Israel then waged a war that killed tens of thousands of Palestinians without so far accomplishing its goals of completely dismantling Hamas or of freeing all the hostages.—
Nicholas Kristof,
The Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The song’s sound and message resonated with listeners, prompting Lake to release his eight-track EP Hard Fought Hallelujah: Heavyweight Edition, featuring various versions of the song, including live, demo, acoustic and instrumental versions.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
22 Jan. 2025
-
Jennie will release her first solo album, Ruby, on March 7.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In 2015, at age 17, she was legally emancipated from her mother.—
Andrew Walsh,
EW.com,
22 Dec. 2024
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In that agreement, all Black people who had been enslaved by the Muscogee Nation were emancipated and provided with full Creek citizenship privileges, including the right to landownership.—
Caleb Gayle,
The Atlantic,
17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Disaster struck when a team of firefighters trying to rescue two comrades trapped in the building were themselves imperiled by a collapsing wall.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Jan. 2025
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Two people from the boat washed up on Little Rock Jetty just to the north of the incident and were rescued by lifeguards, Romero said.—
Gary Warth,
The Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In 2017, there was a collaborative effort between Mexico and the United States to save vaquitas and place them in a pen under human care.—
Uma Raja,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Jan. 2025
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The Apple iPad mini (2024) is now available for just $399 (saving you a cool hundred bucks).—
Shubham Yewale,
PCMAG,
28 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near enfranchise
Cite this Entry
“Enfranchise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enfranchise. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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