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
About a year after the infirmary team returned to the United States, the 19th Amendment became law, enfranchising 27 million women, the largest expansion of voting rights in American history.
—
Amy Sohn, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
Some other states specifically prohibit localities from enfranchising noncitizens.
—Jennifer Peltz, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for enfranchise
Amy Sohn, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
Some other states specifically prohibit localities from enfranchising noncitizens.
—Jennifer Peltz, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for enfranchise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enfranchise
Verb
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This victory, incidentally, liberated the island of Taiwan and returned it to Chinese jurisdiction.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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Where Beyoncé added poetic interludes between songs, in Songs from the Hole, the audience learns about Jacobs' story and how his music spiritually liberates him while simultaneously being among the reasons officials cited for not granting him parole.—
Kara Frame,
NPR,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Betrayed and with no recourse through legal channels, Yuta is plunged into a single harrowing night fighting through layers of organized crime to free his teenage sister from a trafficking network.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
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We should be freed of having to have our camera upright all the time.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The project, which has not been released, was approved during Mayor Eric Adams’ tenure.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
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That oil will be in addition to the 440 million barrels the United States and other countries are releasing from their reserves to combat rising fuel prices.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Colorado law ties teens to their parents unless they can get emancipated by the court.—
Fraidy Reiss,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
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The actress would go on to struggle with addiction issues and in February 1991, emancipated herself at the age of 14.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Barcelona needed Lamine Yamal’s penalty with the last kick of the game to rescue a 1-1 draw at Newcastle in the first leg.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Two people inside the rowhome were rescued and taken to the hospital.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 2026 Oscars truly saw the stars save their most eye-popping looks for last.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
16 Mar. 2026
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Deputies began life-saving measures and she was taken to a nearby hospital in an ambulance.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enfranchise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enfranchise. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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