# vanquished

/ˈvæŋkwɪʃt/ (US) · /vˈænkwɪʃt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vanquished
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

to defeat someone or something completely in a fight or a competition. You use this when one side has no chance of winning anymore.

For teachers: to overcome or defeat an opponent decisively in a contest or battle. Often implies a total or overwhelming victory.

## Examples

- The army vanquished the enemy after a long battle.
- The reigning champion was vanquished by a younger athlete who showed incredible speed and strength.
- The historical account details how the empire was vanquished not by a single decisive battle, but by a slow erosion of its economic and political power over several decades.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.