thrall

1 of 2

noun

plural thralls
1
a
: a state of servitude or submission
usually used with in
in thrall to his emotions
b
: a state of complete absorption
usually used with in
… mountains could hold me in thrall with a subtle attraction of their own …Elyne Mitchell
2
a
: an enslaved person who performs the duties of a servant : bondman
also : serf
b
: a person in moral or mental servitude
thrall adjective
thralldom noun
or thraldom

thrall

2 of 2

verb

thralled; thralling; thralls

Examples of thrall in a Sentence

Noun I'm not your thrall, so you'll have to pick up after yourself. a people who still bear the scars of having been in thrall for so many years
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Both parties are in the thrall of radical populists, nationalists on the right and progressives on the left, leaving conservatives and liberals out in the cold. Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 11 Apr. 2025 The mystery of the contrail lent it a special power that held us in its thrall, bonding us at that early moment in our friendship. Kate Folk, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2025 Weegee’s Hollywood portraits, much like his earlier reportorial work, comment on a world increasingly held in the thrall of images. Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2025 As his life neared its end, however, Spencer expressed disappointment at the direction the Republican Party had taken, with so many in Trump’s personal thrall. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thrall

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English thral, from Old English thræl, from Old Norse thræll

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thrall was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thrall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thrall. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

thrall

noun
ˈthrȯl
1
: an enslaved person
2
a
: a state of servitude or submission
in thrall to his emotions
b
: a state of complete attention
the play held me in thrall
thralldom noun
or thraldom
ˈthrȯl-dəm

More from Merriam-Webster on thrall

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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