thrall

American  

[thrawl] / θrɔl /

noun

1. a person who is morally or mentally enslaved by some power, influence, or the like.

   He was the thrall of morbid fantasies.

2. a person held in bondage or slavery.

3. slavery; thralldom.

4. the condition of being in the power of something or someone; a state of subjugation or rapt absorption.

   We will receive no help from the media, who are for the most part in thrall to the political establishment.

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verb (used with object)

1. Archaic. to put or hold in thralldom; enslave.

adjective

1. Archaic. subjected to bondage; enslaved.

thrall British  

/ θrɔːl /

noun

1. Also called: thraldom.   thralldom.  the state or condition of being in the power of another person

2. a person who is in such a state

3. a person totally subject to some need, desire, appetite, etc

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verb

1. (tr) to enslave or dominate

Other Word Forms

• unthralled adjective

Etymology

Origin of thrall

First recorded before 950; Middle English thral, thral(l)e, threl(l)e, Old English thrǣl “bondman, slave, servant, thrall,” from Old Norse thrǣll “slave, servant”

Example Sentences

Really, I think Luhrmann is praying that in a thousand years, some alien civilization will discover this footage and build a whole religion around the thrall Elvis’ hip thrusts had over a crowd.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

Those not already in thrall to Mr. Winchester may find that however much they want to be pleased with his style in “The Breath of the Gods,” they can’t quite get there.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

Ashbourne is also in thrall to her character, who has a tough exterior but a lust for life - and leopard print.

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2024

And I think we shouldn't give up on the people in our lives who have fallen into the thrall of this kind of thinking.

From Salon • Sep. 10, 2024

I sensed that Malcolm was not confident he would succeed in escaping from the shadowy world which had held him in thrall.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey