1
as in servants
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in laborers
a person who does very hard or dull work
unappreciated office slaves who perform the necessary but tedious task of filing paperwork
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in labors
to devote serious and sustained effort
slaving over a hot stove
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slaves
Andrew R. Chow, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
My maternal grandfather, Frederick Douglas Fisher—both of his parents were slaves.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
The Supreme Court was a particular target of Lincoln, who, along with other young members of the Republican Party, was still angered by the Court for the infamous Dred Scott decision in 1857 which declared that slaves were not American citizens.
—Mikayla Bunnell, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026
Historians estimate up to 45,000 slaves passed through Detroit on the Underground Railroad.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Our executive producers in Senegal found a cave on Gorée Island, a famous site known as one of the last places where slaves were held before being sent to the New World.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2026
Originally a Dutch vessel, the Zorg had been captured by a British captain and heavily overloaded with slaves.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 8 Jan. 2026
In the subsequent testimony, Médor claimed that the only way to stop these poisonings was for enslavers to stop promising slaves their estate would free them after their death.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
Edith Renfrow Smith, the granddaughter of slaves, died at the age of 111.
—Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
Spain brought the crop to the island in the 1500s and set up massive plantations manned by slaves.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
My maternal grandfather, Frederick Douglas Fisher—both of his parents were slaves.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
The Supreme Court was a particular target of Lincoln, who, along with other young members of the Republican Party, was still angered by the Court for the infamous Dred Scott decision in 1857 which declared that slaves were not American citizens.
—Mikayla Bunnell, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026
Historians estimate up to 45,000 slaves passed through Detroit on the Underground Railroad.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Our executive producers in Senegal found a cave on Gorée Island, a famous site known as one of the last places where slaves were held before being sent to the New World.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2026
Originally a Dutch vessel, the Zorg had been captured by a British captain and heavily overloaded with slaves.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 8 Jan. 2026
In the subsequent testimony, Médor claimed that the only way to stop these poisonings was for enslavers to stop promising slaves their estate would free them after their death.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
Edith Renfrow Smith, the granddaughter of slaves, died at the age of 111.
—Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaves
Noun
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But what will inevitably be first in the conversation is the sequence in which two servants engage in rough role-play in a barn.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2026
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The script also stirs in a BDSM tryst between two servants in a stable.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Politicians are borrowing Rehmet’s pro-labor messaging Looking toward the March 3 primary, Rottinghaus said this is the first time in a generation that laborers make up a significant part of the ballot from either party.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Feb. 2026
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Founded in 1952, during a period of employee unrest at Disney, TAG emerged to protect creative workers who were too often dismissed as technicians or low-level laborers.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Plus, bail bondsmen are the ultimate local rent seekers.—
Dan Gooding
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The workers seek health insurance, fairer wages and protection of their online content — rights that could set a precedent for the industry.—
Jessica Hill,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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Texas should invest in workforce readiness so workers can adapt and compete without stifling innovation with premature regulation.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The film tells the story 21-year-old Junyang, who drifts through life while his father quietly struggles to hold their modest home together.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
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The middle-aged woman cured of breast cancer who now struggles to climb stairs because endocrine therapy has carved away her bone density and caused joint aches.—
Gilberto Lopes,
STAT,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cohen said that Harpers, which is also 100 years old this year, strives to make its customers comfortable enough to just come in and visit without necessarily buying anything.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
6 Feb. 2026
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The 57-year-old now strives for something even more elusive and meaningful than success in the nation’s top baseball conference.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The average American now works about four years longer than during the 1980s, according to Gallup polling.—
Paige Winfield Cunningham The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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Containing everyday shoes is one of the trickiest feats in a home, but a system that works for the whole family keeps the chaos contained.—
Wendy Rose Gould,
Martha Stewart,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaves. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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