vanquish

van·quish

transitive verb \ˈvaŋ-kwish, ˈvan-\

Definition of VANQUISH

1

: to overcome in battle : subdue completely

2

: to defeat in a conflict or contest

3

: to gain mastery over (an emotion, passion, or temptation) <vanquish your fear>

— van·quish·able \-kwi-shə-bəl\ adjective

— van·quish·er noun

Examples of VANQUISH

1. They were vanquished in battle.
2. <vanquished nation after nation in his relentless conquest of Europe>

Origin of VANQUISH

Middle English venquishen, from Anglo-French venquis-, preterit stem of veintre to conquer, from Latin vincere — more at victor

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to VANQUISH

Synonyms

dominate, overpower, pacify, subdue, subject, subjugate, subordinate, conquer

Related Words

annihilate, beat, clobber, crush, defeat, drub, lick, mow (down), overcome, prevail (over), reduce, rout, skunk, smash, thrash, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip; enslave; break, clamp down (on), crack down (on), put down, quash, quell, repress, silence, smother, snuff (out), squash, squelch, suppress

Near Antonyms

discharge, emancipate, enfranchise, free, liberate, manumit, release, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter

See Synonym Discussion at conquer