unconquerableadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈkɒŋk(ə)rəbl/, /(ˌ)ʌŋˈkɒŋk(ə)rəbl/, U.S. /ˌənˈkɑŋk(ə)rəb(ə)l/ 1.
a. Of persons, places, etc.: That cannot be overcome by conquest or force of arms; not yielding to superior force; invincible.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > victory > [adjective] > invincible
insuperablec1340
unvanquishablea1382
unexpugnable1382
invincible1412
unovercomablec1475
unvictable1533
unvincible1554
unvinceable1568
Achillean1579
unconquerable1598
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Inuincibile, inuincible, vnconquerable.
1608 Bp. J. King Serm. St. Maries Oxf. 10 Whose priuiledge and right vnquestionable, is, per me reges regnant, and his might vnconquerable.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. i. 40 There is neither out-going nor in-comming, without a Pylot, which maketh the Citty vnconquerable.
1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης ix. 76 So farr was any man..from esteeming him unconquerable.
1760 W. Pitt Let. 9 Sept. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. IV. 421 To give stability and happiness to the fortunes of this unconquerable Monarch.
1798 T. Pennant View of Hindoostan II. 196 The most unconquerable fort in the world.
1859 R. C. Singleton tr. Virgil Aeneid x, in tr. Virgil Wks. II. 360 The buckler, which the Lord of Fire himself Vouchsafed, unconquerable.
1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 315 They forgot now that..Hannibal was still in Italy, still unconquered, and, as far as they knew, unconquerable.
b. Of the mind, feelings, etc., with similar implication.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > [adjective] > not overcome or overwhelmed > of the mind, feelings, etc.
unconquerable1667
(a)
(b)1776 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall I. xii. 339 Their unconquerable love of freedom, rising against despotism, provoked them into hasty rebellions.1797 A. Radcliffe Italian II. v. 166 He fought with unconquerable audacity and fierceness.1825 W. Scott Talisman ii, in Tales Crusaders III. 20 Animated by a zeal as fiery as their own, and possessed of as unconquerable courage, address, and success in arms.1881 B. Jowett tr. Thucydides Hist. Peloponnesian War I. 154 The unconquerable quality which is inherent in our minds.1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 106 All is not lost; the unconquerable Will, And study of revenge, immortal hate. View more context for this quotation
1702 N. Rowe Tamerlane iii. i But to subdue th' unconquerable Mind,..Impossible!
1757 T. Gray Ode I ii. ii, in Odes 8 Th' unconquerable Mind, and Freedom's holy flame.
1802 W. Wordsworth Sonnet to Liberty i. viii. 14 Man's unconquerable mind.
1875 W. E. Henley Life & Death iv, in Bk. Verses (1888) 56 I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.
2.
a. Incapable of being overcome, mastered, brought under control, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > [adjective] > not overcome or overwhelmed > that cannot be
insuperablec1340
unvanquishablea1382
unexpugnable1382
invincible1482
unsuperable1526
inexpugnablea1535
unvincible1554
impugnable1570
conquerless1595
invictivea1607
inaccessible?1611
unsubduable1611
insuppressivea1616
inexsuperable1623
undefeatablea1640
unconquerable1642
irreducible1858
tower-proof1858
insubduable1866
uncrushable1873
unwinnable1972
1642 T. Fuller Holy State ii. viii. 78 Nothing was unconquerable to his pains, who had a golden wit in an iron body.
1654 A. Cokayne tr. G. F. Loredano Dianea i. 53 That there was nothing more unconquerable than love.
1695 Ld. Preston tr. Boethius Of Consol. Philos. iv. 166 By this almost unconquerable Bent and Help of Nature.
1771 J. Beattie Minstrel: Bk. 1st i. 1 Check'd by the scoff of Pride, by Envy's frown, And Poverty's unconquerable bar.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall II. xviii. 118 Yet he mentions with admiration the unconquerable fertility of the soil.
1828 I. D'Israeli Comm. Life Charles I I. i. 7 Something of pity and terror must blend with the story of a noble mind wrestling with unconquerable Fate.
1846 R. C. Trench Notes Miracles Introd. v. 68 His argument is..unconquerable so long as it is permitted to rest upon the earth out of which it sprung.
a1881 A. Barratt Physical Metempiric (1883) 17 As this assumption..is perhaps not wholly unconquerable, it will be wise not to lay too much stress on it.
b. Of feelings. (Cf. invincible adj. 1b.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > passion > [adjective] > affected with passion or strong emotion > uncontrollable or irrepressible (of passions)
inexpiable1598
irreclaimable1609
stanchless1612
unextinguishable1642
ungovernable1676
unconquerable1727
quenchless1744
unsurmountable1771
1727 D. Defoe Hist. Apparitions I. x. 73 An unconquerable aversion to any restraint.
1767 J. Wilkes Corr. (1805) III. 217 The same fixed and unconquerable hatred to the enemies of freedom.
1798 S. Lee Young Lady's Tale in H. Lee Canterbury Tales II. 492 Actuated by an unconquerable curiosity.
1828 P. F. Tytler Hist. Scotl. (1864) I. 49 His unconquerable thirst of vengeance against the English influenced their choice.
1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola III. vi. 60 Romola..shrank with unconquerable disgust from the shrill excitability of those illuminated women.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1598