CONQUER Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

conquer

verb

ˈkäŋ-kər

Definition of conquer

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

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as in to overcome

to achieve a victory over love conquers all, or so romance novels would have us believe

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to win

to achieve victory (as in a contest) a coach who demands that his team conquer, whatever the cost

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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 These careful practices are far more meaningful than conquer and conquest. — Angelica Calabrese, Longreads, 7 July 2026 The Romans conquered this region more than two millennia ago. — Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026 Game plan for the title fight Gaethje has also conquered the art of performing as an underdog. — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 6 July 2026 Still, the tour doesn’t shy away from the mission’s sins over its 250 years, demystifying how supposedly carefree life was during the height of its operations before the United States conquered Mexico. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for conquer

Recent Examples of Synonyms for conquer

Verb

Treasury market securities that investors use to price in inflation expectations are subdued.

— Jeff Cox, CNBC, 8 July 2026
For all its 120 proof, the ethanol is quite subdued, which allows sweeter (brown sugar), fruitier (figs, cherries), spicier (cinnamon), and lightly smoky aromas (BBQ sauce burnt ends) to really stand apart.

— David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of subdue

Verb

After scoring in Mexico’s opening match against South Africa — his first goal at a World Cup — Jimenez was overcome with emotion on the pitch.

— Tom Burrows, New York Times, 12 July 2026
To be able to feel and touch the community of Cologne, and this person who suffered that ordeal and overcame it — and then managed to carry out the courage of her convictions with Ukrainian refugees.

— Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2026

Definition of overcome

Verb

Boise State won the 1980 NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) national championship in Setencich’s first season, defeating Eastern Kentucky, 31-29, in the title game.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 17 July 2026
The former three-time major winner has been all but forgotten by his former peers in the PGA, in part because his son is now a rising star who’s won a couple of tournaments.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 July 2026

Definition of win

Verb

Japan’s monarchy has for centuries maintained male-only succession, which is on-brand for a deeply patriarchal society where men dominate other spheres of life such as business and politics.

— Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
Highs are still projected to reach the upper 90s, with mostly sunny skies dominating the forecast.

— The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 13 July 2026

Definition of dominate

Verb

Michelin said defeating the current version of the measure is California Retailers Association’s top priority of all the bills that are still pending in the Legislature.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2026
The Texas Rangers defeated the Los Angeles Angels 7-6 at Globe Life Field on Thursday night to reclaim first place in the American League West.

— Cal Phillips Updated July 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2026

Definition of defeat

Verb

The amendments could be factors, however, in driving voter turnout in states where both Democrats and Republicans have prevailed in statewide elections in the last five years.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
Meanwhile, wetter conditions may prevail over eastern Africa.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

Definition of prevail

Verb

This allows cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs and no longer arbitrarily subjects them to traffic control measures designed for other types of vehicles.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
Following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse five years ago, Haiti has existed in a state of anarchy, with organized crime controlling swaths of the country and subjecting millions of Haitians to deprivation and extreme violence.

— Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026

Definition of subject

Verb

Specialists are now studying the turbine blades to determine how they were manufactured and whether Russia has mastered single-crystal casting for cruise missile propulsion.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026
Ahead, Sharkey shares more advice for mastering boho style, along with her product recommendations that check flower crowns at the door.

— Irene Richardson, InStyle, 11 July 2026

Definition of master

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connubiality

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“Conquer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conquer. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of conquer

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