slave 1 of 2

1
as in servant
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

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2
as in laborer
a person who does very hard or dull work unappreciated office slaves who perform the necessary but tedious task of filing paperwork

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slave

2 of 2

verb

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 slave
Noun
One of their great grandmothers was born here a slave in 1861, on what was then the Dixon plantation near Sparta, a few hours south of Atlanta. Steve Osunsami, ABC News, 3 Mar. 2025 The slave markets of the Viking world: comparative perspectives on an ‘invisible archaeology’ The Viking Herald. Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
In other words, spend your energies considering the ingredients rather than slaving over the method. Judy Bart Kancigor, Orange County Register, 18 Jan. 2024 And, having lost their land, the family is being supported only by the wages of their son who is slaving at a brick factory. Patrick Frater, Variety, 12 Feb. 2024 See All Example Sentences for slave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slave
Noun
  • While public money was spent on converting former servants quarters into a family home, the interior decor was paid for privately.
    Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
  • There, a plaque remembers Anne Glover, an Irish servant who was falsely accused of witchcraft and executed.
    Michele Herrmann, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Without its central industry, it’s become a ghost town, and one where the era of Harmony and her old friend (played by character actor James LeGros) working as child laborers(*) for Lumon comparatively feel like the good old days.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2025
  • A week later, Chinese laborers returned to Rock Springs and soon resumed coal production.
    Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Patterson had labored on the project for years, enlarging it at one point into a seven episode mini-series, before shrinking it back down again.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Also headed to Vijayawada was a group of laboring youths from Khagaria, in Bihar.
    Amitava Kumar, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Victims were persuaded to give the money to another individual who came to their homes - in New York City, Chicago and other locations - posing as a bail bondsman or in some cases send it by mail.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 5 Mar. 2025
  • The victims were also persuaded to provide bail money to people who came to their home impersonating bail bondsmen and were often led to believe a gag order was in place, preventing them from telling anyone about the situation.
    Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • That is combined with the widespread layoffs of federal workers and cuts to government spending.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Labor costs fluctuate based on accessibility and demand for skilled workers.
    Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • England have struggled at the latter position in recent years, and with Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall out injured until next season, Spence could be Tuchel’s best option there already.
    Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Still, with fewer employees, the department may struggle to meet the demands of a growing number of applicants.
    Scott White, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Kyiv has been striving to prove its readiness for peace while stressing that no deal can succeed without American security guarantees to deter repeat Russian aggression.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Both China and Europe strive to be global leaders in the clean technology sector, for instance, and Chinese overproduction is threatening European industrial champions, particularly in the auto sector.
    Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The game is the system that keeps one as chattel for the other.
    Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024
  • This led to the development of a particular type of housing structure known as chattel houses in countries such as Barbados.
    Farah Nibbs, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Slave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slave. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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