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to conquer

to conquer

397 3.7
To take control of a place by force or to beat something hard like a fear
  • verb
  • /ˈkɒŋkər/
translation icon : conquistar
  • To succeed in life, you must learn to conquer the obstacles that stand in your way.
  • conquer fear
  • conquer a territory
  • divide and conquer

He says that it's conquered by spiritual joy.

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Examples

  • How did you manage to conquer the world of fashion?

  • I'm about to conquer one of my biggest fears.

  • It's like so many people have tried to conquer them and have failed.

  • We have to learn how to conquer and take over new territory.

  • Time spent cannot change physical distance, but it can reduce the time necessary to conquer conceptual distance.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Students with high self-efficacy view problems as challenges to be conquered and put forth effort when challenged.

    Academic text (2013)
  • In 490 BC, Darius sent his nephew and one of his generals to conquer Athens.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Many explorers dream of conquering new lands and experiencing different cultures.

  • She was determined to conquer her fear of public speaking by practicing every week.

Synonyms

to capture
vsto conquer
884 2.8

To catch and take control of someone or something after a chase

also includes success over fears or challenges rather than only taking someone
to occupy
vsto conquer
324 5.9

To take control of a place, often by force

also covers defeating problems or fears rather than only military action
to seize
vsto conquer
277 3.2

To take control of a place or person quickly, often by force

includes sudden capture but also long fights or inner obstacles
to dominate
vsto conquer
275 3.7

To have strong control over people or things

focuses more on achieving control or victory, not just ongoing influence
to take control
vsto conquer
227 3.5

Start to have power and make decisions about something

can mean winning a fight or fear, not only starting authority
to take over
vsto conquer
222 3.8

Gain control of a company, organization, or government

also covers beating fears or obstacles, not only acquiring entities
to subject
vsto conquer
62 7.7

To bring a person or group under the control of another

is broader by also including overcoming nonpeople obstacles or fears
to subdue
vsto conquer
37 5.5

To bring a person or thing under control, often by force

adds the sense of victory over problems or fears, not just restraint
to overpower
vsto conquer
33 3.8

To use more strength to defeat and control a person or thing

can mean success through strategy or effort, not only raw strength
to subjugate
vsto conquer
  • Formal
21 9.2

To bring someone or something under control, often by force

also applies to overcoming problems or fears, not only domination by force
to overrun
vsto conquer
20 7.0

Take control of a place by force, usually quickly

can mean gaining control more generally, not only rapid military seizure
to prevail over
vsto conquer
8 5.8

To win against someone or something that tries to stop you

can mean direct forceful control or practical victory rather than gradual influence
to surmount
vsto conquer
6 6.3

To deal successfully with a difficulty like a problem or barrier

also covers taking control of people or places by force
to overmaster
vsto conquer
  • Literature
1 9.1

To defeat and control someone or something completely

can also mean achieving success over a problem without forceful domination
to stamp down
vsto conquer
6.5

Stop something by using force or strict rules

is wider, also meaning gaining control or winning over challenges

Antonyms

187 4.1

To accept another person's control, often against your wishes

81 4.3

To stop resisting under pressure or force

77 4.2

Giving up after defeat, for example when an army stops fighting

How Successful

to vanquish
  • Formal
109 7.2
to conquer
397 3.7
to defeat
932 2.1
to subdue
37 5.5
to overcome
429 2.9

Surface Forms

conquer infinitive
conquered past
conquered past participle
conquering present participle
conquers third person singular

Etymology

The word conquer comes from Latin words con- 'together' and quaerere 'to seek', the same root as quest. So to conquer originally meant to 'get' something by effort, which is why today it means to take control of a place or to overcome a problem.