conquer
verb
transitive verb
intransitive verb
Synonyms
- dominate
- overpower
- pacify
- subdue
- subject
- subjugate
- subordinate
- vanquish
Example Sentences
Sandra Bullock, quoted in Playboy, September 1995 After her initial passionate prayer of thanks for the strength to conquer her vast disappointment, she stayed on her knees, the hassock comfortable … James Clavell, Gai-Jin, (1993) 1994 It used to be that men "conquered" mountains in a cacophony of gratuitous chest-thumping. Tim Cahill, New York Times Book Review, 10 June 1990 But however vile the movie, the sentiments it embodies are (as they say) American as apple pie: the west was something to be conquered and claimed. Margaret Atwood, Survival, 1972 The city was conquered by the ancient Romans. They conquered all their enemies. He finally conquered his drug habit. Scientists believe the disease can be conquered. See More Marcy Gordon, ajc, 27 July 2022 There are lots of ways to hike the Ice Age Trail, from challenging yourself to conquer the whole thing to focusing on some specific segments whenever the season is most to your liking. Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 29 July 2022 On Wednesday, the Fed raised its benchmark rate by a sizable three-quarters of a point for a second straight time in its push to conquer the worst inflation outbreak in four decades. Paul Wiseman, Anchorage Daily News, 29 July 2022 On Wednesday, the Fed raised its benchmark rate by a sizable three-quarters of a point for a second straight time in its push to conquer the worst inflation outbreak in four decades. Paul Wiseman, ajc, 28 July 2022 Cruise demurred and set his sights on other mountains to conquer, from pool-hustling with Paul Newman to helping Dustin Hoffman win another Oscar. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2022 Bella Hadid returned to France to conquer the Cannes Film Festival red carpet. Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 25 May 2022 Discord was an app that enabled real-time voice and text chatting, so friends could team up to conquer an obstacle, or just chat while exploring a game world. Brianna Dym, The Conversation, 15 Mar. 2022 With interest rates at historic lows today, precisely how high Powell would have to raise them to conquer inflation is far from clear. Damon Linker, The Week, 15 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Middle English, to acquire, conquer, from Anglo-French conquerre, from Vulgar Latin *conquaerere, alteration of Latin conquirere to search for, collect, from com- + quaerere to ask, search
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing conquer
Kids Definition
conquer
verb
conquer
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- subdue
- dominate
- subject
- overcome
- defeat
- vanquish
- subjugate
- enslave
- pacify
- overpower
- reduce
- subordinate
- beat
- crush
- annihilate
- smash
- quell
- lick
- trounce
- suppress
- whip
- clobber
- rout
- thrash
- repress
- quash
- wallop
- squash
- skunk
- silence
- smother
- squelch
- drub
- mow (down)
- prevail (over)
- triumph (over)
- break
- put down
- snuff (out)
- crack down (on)
- clamp down (on)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- liberate
- emancipate
- free
- enfranchise
- release
- discharge
- spring
- manumit
- unbind
- unchain
- unfetter
- uncage
Synonyms & Similar Words
- overcome
- defeat
- master
- beat
- get
- subdue
- take
- stop
- surmount
- dispatch
- succeed
- best
- lick
- worst
- upend
- overmatch
- overbear
- get around
- trim
- overwhelm
- finish
- skunk
- bury
- surpass
- do down
- annihilate
- vanquish
- sweep
- get the better of
- crush
- prevail (over)
- triumph (over)
- excel
- subjugate
- slaughter
- win (against)
- exceed
- score
- knock for a loop
- trounce
- flatten
- blow out
- overthrow
- excel
- transcend
- top
- flourish
- bomb
- upset
- blow away
- skin
- overpower
- rout
- clobber
- outdo
- whip
- cream
- nose out
- break
- better
- snow under
- outshine
- unseat
- thrash
- pip
- cap
- drub
- outdistance
- smoke
- wallop
- outstrip
- knock over
- eclipse
- wax
- shellac
- overtop
- edge (out)
- outfight
- knock off
- ace (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lose (to)
- fall
- fail
- give up
- fold
- collapse
- wash out
- flunk
- go under
- flop
- go down
Synonyms & Similar Words
- win
- prevail
- overcome
- succeed
- triumph
- kick butt
- contend
- carry the day
- sweep
- vie
- squeak
- squeeze
- breeze
- romp
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lose
- fail
- struggle
- fold
- collapse
- wash out
- slip
- decline
- flop
- flounder
- wane
- slump
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of conquer are defeat, overcome, overthrow, reduce, subdue, and vanquish. While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," conquer implies gaining mastery of.
Defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.
The words overcome and conquer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.
The meanings of overthrow and conquer largely overlap; however, overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.
Although the words reduce and conquer have much in common, reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.
While the synonyms subdue and conquer are close in meaning, subdue implies a defeating and suppression.
The synonyms vanquish and conquer are sometimes interchangeable, but vanquish implies a complete overpowering.