conquer

verb

con·​quer ˈkäŋ-kər How to pronounce conquer (audio)
conquered; conquering ˈkäŋ-k(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce conquer (audio)

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
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 To believe that Oppenheimer is the best film of 2023 is to believe that the United States deserves to be invaded and conquered and morally overturned (revolutionized) from within. Armond White, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024 The Warriors’ intensity ramped up in the fourth, but shooting 26.2% from behind the 3-point arc requires an immense, persistent level of urgency to conquer. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Transitioning from a tax preparer to a CPA involves surmounting hurdles, especially in conquering the REG section of the CPA exam, where extensive study and a robust review course are indispensable, regardless of one’s background in tax strategy. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 But everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked and wiped out the Air Nomads, the first step taken by the firebenders towards conquering the world. Selome Hailu, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 Considering these questions when building teams will power up managerial skills and help conquer a company’s most challenging problems. Songyee Yoon, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Equipped with the latest gear and a thirst for adventure, mountaineers embrace the perils that come with conquering the world’s highest peaks. Brian Strickland, The Conversation, 1 Mar. 2024 For Russia’s bid to conquer Ukraine, this year’s U.S. election stakes couldn’t be higher. David Klepper, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Mar. 2024 For Russia's bid to conquer Ukraine, this year's U.S. election stakes couldn't be higher. David Klepper, Quartz, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'conquer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of conquer was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near conquer

Cite this Entry

“Conquer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conquer. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

conquer

verb
con·​quer ˈkäŋ-kər How to pronounce conquer (audio)
conquered; conquering -k(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce conquer (audio)
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 noun

More from Merriam-Webster on conquer

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