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

Examples 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
  • While the technology is impressive, the real value lies in how these platforms free up HR professionals to focus on what matters most – the human aspect of their role.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
  • The original 28 Days Later takes place in a world where animal rights activists have freed a group of infected chimpanzees to horrifying results.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The track is from Eilish's latest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, which was released in May.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 12 Dec. 2024
  • To be eligible, films must be released in theaters during calendar 2024, and TV shows must have aired between January 1 and November 1.
    Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • On Monday, the ISW's map noted gains by Kyiv in Ukraine's Donetsk region as well as claims by Russian sources that Ukrainian forces had liberated Novyi Komar.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
  • His apparent ouster would bring to a close nearly 25 years of his tight-grip rule, liberate Syria from a family dynasty that has brutally controlled Syria for double that time and inject fresh turmoil into a Middle East region already spilling over with warfare and political uncertainty.
    Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The San Luis Obispo County Urban Search and Rescue team rescued the two individuals in collaboration with the California Highway Patrol and the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
  • She was rescued and taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.
    Skylar Heisey, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • African cultures contributed significantly to carnival traditions, as enslaved people who were newly emancipated brought their musical instruments, dance rhythms, singing styles, masks and costumes to the street.
    Sharene Shariatzadeh, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2024
  • Trump has insisted his tariffs would create jobs at home and emancipate the U.S. from being at the mercy of foreign manufacturing.
    Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Millions were enfranchised when women got the vote in 1920, but Black women were mostly excluded from voting due to legal discrimination.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 18 Sep. 2024
  • Comprehensively enfranchising migrants as urban citizens could lead to severe backlash from the urban elites—the constituency with which the CCP most closely aligns.
    Damien Ma, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2015
Verb
  • To keep Kiara's mind off things, Rafiki tells the story of young Mufasa (Aaron Pierre), who got washed away from his family by a huge flood and was saved by Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), the prince of his pride who shows early signs of his craven nature and eventual heel turn as Scar.
    Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Arkansas' executive branch agencies could save or avoid spending about $300 million in the next six years, according to a report published Monday.
    Worth Sparkman, Axios, 17 Dec. 2024

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Thesaurus Entries Near manumit

Cite this Entry

“Manumit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manumit. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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