The word I want is one pertaining to war and it has a definition like:  giving an enemy no other option but to surrender.  I read it in a book last year and was surprised that there was a word for it.  Does anyone have any idea?  It’s perfect and it’s driving me crazy!

Thanks.

Often you find this tactical verb “to flank” used while describing ancient or modern conventional warfare to signify a flanking maneuver, certain to capture entire cities or subdue hostile forces by cutting off such vital lines of daily communication.

No, that’s not it.  It’s something like subdue or succumb, but not.  It’s really frustrating!

Unconditional surrender?

It could be the attacker subjugating the enemy, who would have no choice but to capitulate.

I think the word you’re looking for is “Teriyaki.” As in, “We teriyakied the enemy and really put a hurtin’ on them.”

War, sadly, generates interesting words.

Coventrate describes a devastating attack; it’s taken from the WWII German bombing attack on the UK industrial city of Coventry that was substantially flattened. (There are other instances.) I was surprised not to find this word in some online dictionaries I searched. Perhaps a WOTD? http://airminded.org/2005/11/25/coventrate/ has it.

Similarly I’ve seen Hiroshima used in a similar manner, this time referring to the Japanese town whose destruction led to surrender.