as in conquest
the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control
a movie about the vanquishing of Egypt by Rome
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in conquering
to bring under one's control by force of arms
vanquished nation after nation in his relentless conquest of Europe
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of vanquishing
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
James Hansen, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
And despite being massively outnumbered and outgunned, Royce led the takedown of four enemy jets and almost destroyed the others, vanquishing his adversaries while taking 263 bullets to his own plane and being seriously hurt.
—Time Staff, Time, 25 Feb. 2026
Ash vs Evil Dead (2015–2018) Bruce Campbell returns to the role he was born to play in this comedy-horror series 30 years after vanquishing body-possessing demons in The Evil Dead (1981), Evil Dead II (1987), and Army of Darkness (1992).
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Feb. 2026
However, once Hernán Cortés triumphed, the conquistadors went from waging war — vanquishing the Aztecs — to the project of subjugating Indigenous holdouts and building a self-sustaining territory loyal to the crown.
—Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Moments later, with a midair tribute to the dunking style of Karl Malone, Johnson was inflight over E-40 and on the way to vanquishing Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxon Hayes and Orlando Magic rookie guard Jase Richardson in the first round.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
One showed martial-arts legend Bruce Lee vanquishing a roomful of opponents.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
Their 1995 album has the rickety punk sound of suburban nightmares, jagged landslides of noise for vanquishing all the dread, real and imagined, just outside their windows.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025
China’s Alibaba was launched in 1999 and three years later took on eBay, soon vanquishing the American company on its home turf.
—Rich Karlgaard, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
But for others who have been part of the fabric of UM’s rich football history, witnessing Miami’s vanquishing of Texas A&M, Ohio State and Mississippi was a quite different experience, one enjoyed in different pockets of the country, often best without distractions.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
And as Siniaková showed emotion of her own in the joy of vanquishing such a favorite, Andreeva started her walk out of the stadium that would end in cursing and acrimony.
—James Hansen, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
And despite being massively outnumbered and outgunned, Royce led the takedown of four enemy jets and almost destroyed the others, vanquishing his adversaries while taking 263 bullets to his own plane and being seriously hurt.
—Time Staff, Time, 25 Feb. 2026
Ash vs Evil Dead (2015–2018) Bruce Campbell returns to the role he was born to play in this comedy-horror series 30 years after vanquishing body-possessing demons in The Evil Dead (1981), Evil Dead II (1987), and Army of Darkness (1992).
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Feb. 2026
However, once Hernán Cortés triumphed, the conquistadors went from waging war — vanquishing the Aztecs — to the project of subjugating Indigenous holdouts and building a self-sustaining territory loyal to the crown.
—Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Moments later, with a midair tribute to the dunking style of Karl Malone, Johnson was inflight over E-40 and on the way to vanquishing Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxon Hayes and Orlando Magic rookie guard Jase Richardson in the first round.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
One showed martial-arts legend Bruce Lee vanquishing a roomful of opponents.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
Their 1995 album has the rickety punk sound of suburban nightmares, jagged landslides of noise for vanquishing all the dread, real and imagined, just outside their windows.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025
China’s Alibaba was launched in 1999 and three years later took on eBay, soon vanquishing the American company on its home turf.
—Rich Karlgaard, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vanquishing
Noun
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For Israel, which had to vacate its Sinai conquest in 1956, there are parallels, too.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Its latest chart conquest comes after the group — Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook — completed mandatory military service.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Vin Baker did not want to return a conquering University of Hartford hero just yet.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
4 Mar. 2026
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Best of luck conquering the world today and, of course, do keep in touch.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Wildcats were never seriously tested by John Calipari’s Razorbacks, practically waltzing into the Elite Eight with a dominating win in San Jose.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
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The Fighting Illini are dreaming of a trip to the Sweet 16 after a dominating win Thursday night against Penn.—
Ryan Baker,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Multiple officers were involved in subduing Guity and placing him in handcuffs, police said.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
14 Jan. 2026
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As the representative for the armed wing of a human empire, you're tasked with subduing these Lovecraftian abominations and securing a foothold for humanity on alien worlds.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Since dark energy rose to domination, however, the opposite is true.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
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Us senior surfers need to stick together to hold off the hordes of nasty agro kidbots that are violently intent on world domination and the spread of nuclear surf rabies and mad Red Bull disease.—
Corky Carroll,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Is such an existential shriek into the abyss, all while living in a society suffused by mind-numbing grief and nationalism, worth subjecting yourself to?—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 Mar. 2026
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Cawood introduced Gavitt — a snippet of Cawood’s remarks were carried on the telecast, subjecting him to considerable teasing — who spoke live on national television at the front of a Hyatt ballroom full of people.—
Bill Hancock,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Austin Hays also hit a three-run home run for the Sox, who collected their first win of the season by defeating the Miami Marlins 9-4 in front of 6,515 at loanDepot park.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
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New York looked terrific, allowing just a single run over three games, defeating the Giants 7-0, 3-0, and 3-1.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Applicants must write an essay that reflects a background of overcoming adversity, such as growing up in a low-income setting or losing a parent.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
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Waring and Woodland are both in the midst of overcoming big obstacles of a different nature.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vanquishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vanquishing. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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