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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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of conquer Advertisement More money than ever before is being spent on building robotics, by a suite of companies racing to be the first to conquer what some believe is a market worth many trillions of dollars. Billy Perrigo, Time, 30 Sep. 2025 If Young can lead a few strong scoring drives, and Ejiro Evero’s defense can get to Drake Maye, Carolina will conquer New England. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2025 To put it into perspective, the structure of Hades II necessitates that players conquer both routes of its story, and multiple times at that to reach the true ending. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025 In an attempt to help the elementary schooler conquer his fears, Gee picked him up and tossed him into the water below. Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conquer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conquer
Verb
  • Inflation remains stubbornly high and the economic outlook subdued, frustrating efforts to repair tattered public services and ease the cost of living.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025
  • There were no injuries, and when officers arrived customers had subdued the suspect, police said in a news release.
    Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • For Woodruff, The Green Kitchen was born out of her own healing journey after overcoming the Epstein-Barr virus and heavy metal toxicity through mindful eating and nutrient-dense foods.
    Wyles Daniel, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025
  • The six-week course, according to a syllabus, blends positive thinking with business and money strategies, offering advice on how to outwork the competition, manage ego, overcome failure and set goals — with homework assignments included.
    Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • And if that concoction of unpredictable strengths wasn’t enough, Florida even won in special teams, blocking a Texas punt for a safety in the second quarter.
    Noah White, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Also of note, four panelists are picking the Houston Texans to beat the Baltimore Ravens without Lamar Jackson, while two are projecting the Ravens to win by a field goal in a tight matchup.
    Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The same applies to coders and writers, who dominate AI adoption rates on platforms like Claude, the researchers found.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Phillipe Chow adds to downtown Nashville's fine-dining scene Its arrival underscores the transformation of a downtown dining scene once dominated by honky-tonks and quick bites.
    Mackensy Lunsford, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The high point came in September 2014, when Brækhus defeated Croatian Ivana Habazin to add the IBF welterweight title to her WBA, WBC, and WBO belts – becoming the first woman in any weight division to be recognized as an undisputed champion.
    George Ramsay, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The Yankees defeated the rival Boston Red Sox in three games at Yankee Stadium Thursday night, and the Dodgers rolled over the Cincinnati Reds in a pair of lopsided affairs at Dodger Stadium, capped by an 8-4 finale Wednesday.
    Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • This could herald an end not just to the acute suffering under this war, but also to the misery that has prevailed in the Strip, especially since 2007, when Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade in response to Hamas’s violent takeover of the territory.
    Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Then, Tennessee survived in Starkville in OT, while Trinidad Chambliss and Ole Miss prevailed over LSU (and Lane Kiffin sounded like a sitcom dad).
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Orders in Memphis would subject troops to the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars them from engaging in law enforcement.
    Devon M. Sayers, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Many employers already subject potential hires to elaborate interview and testing regimes, sometimes requiring them to perform tasks or problem-solve while recruiters watch.
    Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • No other team has been able to master it like the Eagles have been able to.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • From day one, new consultants rotate across industries, geographies, and functions, adapting on the fly and mastering unfamiliar businesses.
    Ruth Umoh, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Conquer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conquer. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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