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Definition of vanquish

vanquish

/ˈvæŋ.kwɪʃ/
van · quish
Adjective:vanquishable
•
Past Simple:vanquished
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Past Participle:vanquished
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Present Participle:vanquishing
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vanquish Lexical Profile

vanquish Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To defeat thoroughly and decisively in a contest, conflict, or competition.

Example

"The reigning chess grandmaster managed to vanquish every challenger during the international tournament."

2

To overcome, suppress, or eradicate an undesirable emotion, fear, or problem.

Example

"Years of public speaking practice helped her finally vanquish her stage fright."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

vannes
vanpool
vanpooling
vanquish
vanquisher
vantaa
vantage

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in Middle English from Old French 'venquis-', the extended stem of 'veincre' (to conquer), which derives from Latin 'vincere' (to conquer or overcome), sharing the same root as 'victory' and 'invincible'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Vanquish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/vanquish
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