vanquish

[vang-kwish, van-]

verb (used with object)

1. to conquer or subdue by superior force, as in battle.

   Synonyms: quell, crush, suppress, subjugate

2. to defeat in any contest or conflict; be victorious over.

   to vanquish one's opponent in an argument.

3. to overcome or overpower.

   He vanquished all his fears.

vanquish

/ ˈvæŋkwɪʃ /

verb

1. to defeat or overcome in a battle, contest, etc; conquer

2. to defeat or overcome in argument or debate

3. to conquer (an emotion)

Other Word Forms

• vanquishable adjective
• vanquisher noun
• vanquishment noun
• unvanquishable adjective
• unvanquished adjective
• unvanquishing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vanquish¹

1300–50; Middle English vencuschen, venquisshen < Old French vencus past participle and venquis past tense of veintre < Latin vincere to overcome

Word History and Origins

Origin of vanquish¹

C14: vanquisshen, from Old French venquis vanquished, from veintre to overcome, from Latin vincere

Example Sentences

The sleepy town of Hawkins is under quarantine as the show’s heroes search for a way to find and vanquish the baddie Vecna.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The West Valley League has dominated girls’ volleyball over the last decade, but Palisades and Venice each vanquished two West Valley League opponents to reach the final.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But inflation in our view remains the bigger threat until it’s vanquished.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They appear thin, weak and vanquished, like the "caliphate" they proclaimed in 2014.

Read more on BBC

The Dodgers had just vanquished the Milwaukee Brewers, a team that did everything right, with four starting pitchers whose contracts total $1.35 billion.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• conquer 
• crush 
• overcome 
• overpower 
• quell 
• repress 
• rout 
• subdue 
• surmount