vanquish

verb

ˈvaŋ-kwish How to pronounce vanquish (audio)
Definition of vanquishnext
as in to conquer
to bring under one's control by force of arms vanquished nation after nation in his relentless conquest of Europe

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb vanquish differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of vanquish are conquer, defeat, overcome, overthrow, reduce, and subdue. While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

When could conquer be used to replace vanquish?

The words conquer and vanquish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, conquer implies gaining mastery of.

Caesar conquered Gaul

How are the words defeat and vanquish related?

Defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

Where would overcome be a reasonable alternative to vanquish?

The meanings of overcome and vanquish largely overlap; however, overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

When is overthrow a more appropriate choice than vanquish?

In some situations, the words overthrow and vanquish are roughly equivalent. However, overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

When is it sensible to use reduce instead of vanquish?

The words reduce and vanquish can be used in similar contexts, but reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

When might subdue be a better fit than vanquish?

Although the words subdue and vanquish have much in common, subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

Example 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 vanquish Inflation surged ahead to start 2025, crimping Americans' buying power and serving as a warning to policymakers — whether those contemplating new tariffs or further interest rate cuts — that price pressures are not yet vanquished. —Courtenay Brown, Axios, 12 Feb. 2025 The ceasefire is immensely popular among Americans, and there is little reason to believe that Israel has discovered the secret formula to finally vanquish Hamas and free the hostages. —Jon Hoffman, TIME, 1 Feb. 2025 Well, inflation hasn't been vanquished from the economic menu, so value meals have become a mainstay. —Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2025 Democrats must find their Reagan now — a candidate whose utility isn’t just to temporarily sideline Trump but vanquish him and his would-be successors for good. —S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vanquish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vanquish
  1. conquer
  2. subdue
  3. dominate
  4. subject
  5. defeat
  6. overcome
Verb
  • While The Changes Track The Progression Of Our Credit Market Amnesia The replacement high-end properties mimic the ambitions of today’s tech titans to conquer outer space.
    — Ann Rutledge, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Vikings had begun to conquer and move into parts of Scotland in 800 A.D.
    — Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of conquer
Verb
  • Canada’s democracy has frayed and strained in the years since, but always held—Quebec’s independence movement was subdued by real concessions from the rest of the provinces, for instance.
    — Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2025
  • He was subdued after an officer fired a beanbag round, striking Hermanson and allowing police to arrest him.
    — Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of subdue
Verb
  • Onto the Dolphins now, and a free agency period also dominated by a quarterback ... and another Jets reject.
    — Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
  • On Valentine’s Day 2025 (Feb. 14), a music video clip featuring an impossibly long and undeniably sensual makeout session instantly dominated social media.
    — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of dominate
Verb
  • Also, many states do not subject Social Security income to state tax.
    — Ty Bernicke, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Also, the legislation would upend mail and online voter registration systems and mandate voter roll purges and could subject election workers to harsh criminal penalties simply for doing their job.
    — Richard Boykin, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of subject
Verb
  • The Houston Rockets defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 144-137, in a thrilling overtime contest Monday that was arguably one of the more confusing, exciting games of the season.
    — Kelly Iko, The Athletic, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Abraham gathered enough support to defeat the amendments, which would have imposed significant new labor requirements on employers.
    — Stuart Anderson, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of defeat
Verb
  • The plethora of pixels can’t overcome a noise-prone sensor, though, and its picture tends to be soft.
    — PCMAG, PCMAG, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Professionals can take control of their careers by overcoming these challenges and embracing an entrepreneurial mindset.
    — Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of overcome

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Cite this Entry

“Vanquish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vanquish. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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