vanquish

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 In 2024, Netanyahu and the military establishment sought to vanquish Hamas’s regional allies, particularly Hezbollah in Lebanon. Leila Seurat, Foreign Affairs, 26 Aug. 2025 The writer Zach Powers, one of Lockwood’s closest friends, pointed out to me that another aspect of contemporary illness writing is the narrative demand that the sick person vanquish the sickness, or achieve some sort of closure. Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025 And the Royals are 5-1 so far on their 10-game homestand after vanquishing the White Sox and Washington Nationals. Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2025 Michelle Williams is vanquishing her fears Dying on camera isn't necessarily something new for Michelle Williams — her Dawson's Creek character, Jen Lindley, dies on the series finale from a heart condition, and her character was killed in Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island. Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vanquish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vanquish
Verb
  • Faultlessly subdued bespoke tailoring, and his grosgrain lapel broadcasts a certain seniority.
    Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • By contrast, growth in Unilever’s Prestige beauty division was flat as the market remained subdued.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Australian rock outfit rises on multiple tallies in the United States this frame and even manages to double up on one tally as a former bestseller performs well again, and the group nearly re-conquers a competitive roster.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Sometimes love conquers all — with the help of modern medicine.
    Viola Kosome, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Carr had been a game warden in Northern Rhodesia (as Zambia was then called), where hunting dominated.
    Daniel Scheffler, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • While oversized leather bomber jackets and trench coats continue to dominate fall trend reports, more voluminous, blanketing silhouettes will surely gain momentum as temperatures begin to plummet.
    Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • By implementing rigorous controls and subjecting them to human scrutiny, companies can guide this powerful technology toward valuable outcomes while mitigating risk factors.
    Steve Durbin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Why subject your kids to degeneracy and violence?
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In 2023-24, Jones had a career year for the Mavericks, who were defeated by the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Some decisions are prudent, such as the Las Vegas Raiders to defeat the New England Patriots at a nice underdog price.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • How Wi-Fi HaLow Can Help Address These Needs To overcome connectivity gaps in large-scale environmental monitoring, some researchers and technologists are turning to Wi-Fi HaLow.
    Michael De Nil, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The movie adaptation is also rife with metaphors about boys becoming men and overcoming life-or-death circumstances to make it out the other side.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vanquish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vanquish. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

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