conquer

verb

con·​quer ˈkäŋ-kər 

conquered; conquering ˈkäŋ-k(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to gain or acquire by force of arms : subjugate

conquer territory

2

: to overcome by force of arms : vanquish

conquered the enemy

3

: to gain mastery over or win by overcoming obstacles or opposition

conquered the mountain

4

: to overcome by mental or moral power : surmount

conquered her fear

intransitive verb

: to be victorious

Synonyms of conquer

• subdue
• dominate
• subject
• overcome
• defeat

Choose the Right Synonym for conquer

conquer, vanquish, defeat, subdue, reduce, overcome, overthrow mean to get the better of by force or strategy.

conquer implies gaining mastery of.

Caesar conquered Gaul

vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

Examples of conquer in a Sentence

And my girlfriends are really strong, feminine women—yet we can all be girls together. Some days we just have to go out and shop, get a massage …  . The next day we want to conquer the world and start our own company. —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.

Recent Examples on the Web

One of the Kremlin’s biggest demands is for Ukraine to surrender territory in the Donbas region, which Russia has illegally annexed but not yet fully conquered. —Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025

This is important because that includes territory that Russia hasn't fully conquered at this point. —Dana Taylor, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025

One had conquered Europe’s imagination, the other its territories. —Merve Emre, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025

Ryan Coogler, who rose from indie roots to conquer the mainstream, takes a daring new leap. —Hideo Kojima, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing conquer

• divide and conquer

Rhymes for conquer

• reconquer

Kids Definition

conquer

verb

con·​quer ˈkäŋ-kər 

conquered; conquering -k(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to get or gain by force of arms

conquer a country

2

: to defeat by force of arms

conquered all their enemies

3

: overcome sense 1, subdue

conquer a habit

4

: to be victorious

conqueror

-kər-ər 

noun