vanquished

adjective

van·​quished ˈvaŋ-kwisht 

ˈvan-

: overcome or defeated in battle or in a conflict or contest

a vanquished foe

In the dim light he could see Leslie's face freeze into its most queenly pose—the kind of expression she usually reserved for vanquished enemies.

—Katherine Paterson

When this morning race was over, the Brown oarsmen waited at their boat house for their vanquished competitors to come around and hand over their rowing shirts, each with its distinctive colors and design.

—William N. Wallace

Exiting at 35th Street, we pass the new Comiskey Park with its vanquished predecessor now reduced to a placeless parking complex across the street …

—Thomas J. Jablonsky

Examples of vanquished in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Once victorious, Zeus condemned his vanquished opponents, notably Atlas, who was forced to carry the burden of the heavens, for eternity. —Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025

The exchange may have appeared amicable after Duckett had attempted one reverse pull too many on the second day of the final Test, but Deep was invading the space of the vanquished batter and risked sparking a far worse reaction from Duckett. —Paul Newman, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025

As the vanquished fish descends through the darkness, other sharks arrive to feast on its remains while the mako, its belly full, circles slowly upward, seeking the surface to bask in the sun. —Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025

This does not begin to capture what happens if long-since vanquished diseases re-ignite or migration surges. —Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above