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 Trump has mostly vanquished voices of dissent within the Republican Party, which was once dominated by national security hawks who called for tough stances against Russia. Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2025 In one undercover video, which was recorded by Solis in Madigan’s office a few days after his No. 1 political nemesis, Republican Bruce Rauner, lost his reelection bid in November 2018, Madigan seemed positively giddy to have vanquished his longtime foe. Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 2 Feb. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for vanquish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vanquish
Verb
  • This year, he was tasked with conquering the opponent’s best hitters in Game 1, and that doesn’t figure to change.
    Zack Meisel, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Channel this passion into some focused new moon intentions on April 27, but don’t let yourself be driven by a sheer need to conquer.
    Nina Kahn, StyleCaster, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Medium-bodied this has excellent ripeness, very good acidity, subdued wood notes, medium-weight tannins and very good persistence.
    Tom Hyland, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • After an initial burst of optimism upon Trump’s election, growth now looks to be more subdued.
    Rob Wile, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Fastest car the last couple weeks, been in position to just dominate races.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Back in China though, BYD is a powerhouse and dominates the market.
    Peter Lyon, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Three former and current volunteer firefighters have filed a lawsuit against an ex-New Jersey police officer and fire official, accusing him of subjecting them to abuse under the guise of training exercises.
    Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Another retailer said that along with several tariffs added for Chinese goods, as well as steel and aluminum tariffs, the new port fees would subject some imports to additional duties between 90 and 95 percent.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Out of Spokane Regional 1, No. 1 overall seed UCLA advances to their first Final Four in program history in the modern era after defeating No. 3 LSU, 72-65.
    Allison Smith, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Orange County officials pitched a sales tax increase to voters that was soundly defeated in 2022.
    Skyler Swisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Recognizing these challenges is the first step toward overcoming them.
    Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Both Banchero and Wagner, who started alongside Cory Joseph, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Wendell Carter Jr., were able to overcome the defensive attention from the Kings and attack the basket with ease.
    Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vanquish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vanquish. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on vanquish

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