Synonyms of conquer

conquer

verb

ˈkäŋ-kər 

1

as in to subdue

to bring under one's control by force of arms

before his final defeat, Napoléon had managed to conquer much of Europe

Synonyms & Similar Words

• subdue
• dominate
• subject
• overcome
• defeat
• vanquish
• subjugate
• enslave
• pacify
• overpower
• reduce
• subordinate
• crush
• beat
• annihilate
• smash
• lick
• quell
• prevail (over)
• triumph (over)
• suppress
• rout
• whip
• mow (down)
• thrash
• trounce
• quash
• repress
• clobber
• smother
• silence
• squelch
• squash
• drub
• put down
• wallop
• crack down (on)
• snuff (out)
• break
• skunk
• clamp down (on)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• liberate
• emancipate
• free
• release
• discharge
• enfranchise
• spring
• unbind
• manumit
• unchain
• unfetter
• uncage

2

as in to overcome

to achieve a victory over

love conquers all, or so romance novels would have us believe

Synonyms & Similar Words

• overcome
• defeat
• master
• take
• beat
• worst
• get
• best
• subdue
• stop
• surmount
• dispatch
• succeed
• lick
• prevail (over)
• upend
• triumph (over)
• win (against)
• overmatch
• overbear
• get the better of
• get around
• trim
• overwhelm
• do down
• finish
• skunk
• bury
• surpass
• crush
• annihilate
• sweep
• vanquish
• slaughter
• subjugate
• excel
• exceed
• better
• knock for a loop
• flatten
• blow out
• trounce
• score
• overthrow
• flourish
• transcend
• upset
• blow away
• whip
• rout
• edge (out)
• clobber
• skin
• overpower
• cream
• break
• bomb
• outdo
• nose out
• snow under
• top
• unseat
• outshine
• thrash
• drub
• pip
• outdistance
• smoke
• outstrip
• cap
• knock over
• wallop
• outfight
• eclipse
• wax
• shellac
• overtop
• ace (out)
• knock off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose (to)
• fall
• give up
• fail
• go down
• fold
• collapse
• go under
• wash out
• flunk
• flop

3

as in to win

to achieve victory (as in a contest)

a coach who demands that his team conquer, whatever the cost

Synonyms & Similar Words

• win
• prevail
• triumph
• succeed
• overcome
• carry the day
• kick butt
• contend
• sweep
• vie
• breeze
• squeak
• squeeze
• romp

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose
• fail
• struggle
• fold
• collapse
• wash out
• decline
• slip
• flop
• flounder
• wane
• slump

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb conquer differ from other similar words?

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.

Caesar conquered Gaul

How do defeat and vanquish relate to one another, in the sense of conquer?

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

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

When would overcome be a good substitute for conquer?

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.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

When can overthrow be used instead of conquer?

The meanings of overthrow and conquer largely overlap; however, overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

When is reduce a more appropriate choice than conquer?

Although the words reduce and conquer have much in common, reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

Where would subdue be a reasonable alternative to conquer?

While the synonyms subdue and conquer are close in meaning, subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

When is it sensible to use vanquish instead of conquer?

The synonyms vanquish and conquer are sometimes interchangeable, but vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of conquer

Like in past Total War games, players must choose an army (and species in this case) and conquer a massive campaign map against a varying number of enemies, which are controlled by the computer and/or humans. —Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 2 June 2026

The inventor of the Basque cheesecake, a dessert that has conquered the world, will retire next year, leaving behind a legacy that has reshaped menus globally. —Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 1 June 2026

Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger conquered DWTS season 10 with Derek Hough, and she's been unstoppable ever since. —Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026

In Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix at the CSIO Piazza di Siena in Rome, it could have been argued that only a Roman, actually, can understand Rome – or at the very least, how to conquer its show jumping crown jewel. —The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 31 May 2026