Synonym Chooser

How does the verb manumit differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of manumit are emancipate, free, liberate, and release. While all these words mean "to set loose from restraint or constraint," manumit implies emancipation from slavery.

the document manumitted the slaves

When would emancipate be a good substitute for manumit?

The words emancipate and manumit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, emancipate implies the liberation of a person from subjection or domination.

labor-saving devices emancipated us from household drudgery

Where would free be a reasonable alternative to manumit?

Although the words free and manumit have much in common, free implies a usually permanent removal from whatever binds, confines, entangles, or oppresses.

freed the animals from their cages

When is liberate a more appropriate choice than manumit?

The synonyms liberate and manumit are sometimes interchangeable, but liberate stresses particularly the resulting state of liberty.

liberated their country from the tyrant

In what contexts can release take the place of manumit?

The meanings of release and manumit largely overlap; however, release suggests a setting loose from confinement, restraint, or a state of pressure or tension, often without implication of permanent liberation.

released his anger on a punching bag

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 manumit Tubman’s father had been manumitted by his owner, but Brodess had inherited Tubman, hiring her and her siblings out to neighbors for seasonal work, whether trapping muskrats or clearing land. Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 24 June 2024 Grant would manumit his one enslaved servant, William Jones, in 1859. Harold Holzer, WSJ, 1 Jan. 2024 In one county, not a single enslaved person was manumitted in 1859. John Reeves, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Dec. 2023 No evidence exists to suggest Kirby Smith did manumit him. Cynthia Greenlee, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2023 Some states, like the state of Georgia, passed expulsion laws that required blacks who were manumitted to leave the state within a year of their emancipation. Tera W. Hunter, The Root, 15 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manumit
Verb
  • The husband eventually managed to free himself of his bindings, and when McIsaac returned to the living room, the husband fought back and subdued him long enough to allow the rest of the family to escape and seek help, prosecutors said.
    Jason Green, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Removing them will free up space and improve performance.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The current medical conditions of the victims, whose names were not publicly released to protect their privacy at this time, are not available.
    Bailey Richards, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The pope had previously only been seen once during his lengthy hospital stay when the Vatican released a photograph of Francis praying at the hospital’s chapel.
    Christopher Lamb, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The good news is that Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s legitimate government have already done the heavy lifting, liberating around 80% of Yemeni territory.
    Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Speaking on the regular call with reporters Thursday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed confidence that all parts of the Kursk region held by Ukraine will soon be liberated.
    Lauren Kent, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • An 82-year-old Louisiana man was rescued by authorities after spending multiple hours stuck in thick mud while fishing.
    Angel Saunders, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Two members of Landi’s crew survived by clinging onto pieces of wood until a passing vessel rescued them the next day.
    Ian Urbina, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • At the age of 14, Culkin emancipated himself from his parents.
    Janelle Ash, Fox News, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The mother-daughter duo went their separate ways when Drew was emancipated at the age of 14.
    Nicole Briese, People.com, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Thus enfranchised, Hackman took on Richard Harris’ elegant killer English Bob with gusto, mixing in a bravura oratorical gavotte with ample kicks to the ribs, and summoning the Best Supporting Actor trophy.
    Fred Schruers, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2025
  • After the Third Reform Act of 1884, six of 10 adult Englishmen were enfranchised.
    Geoffrey Wheatcroft, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • While Jun-no’s priority is saving the company, more than a few executives are focused on saving themselves.
    Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • The anime follows secret agents hunting for a vaccine to save humanity.
    Rebecca Luther, TVLine, 29 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Manumit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manumit. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

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