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Conquer

v. resilient, capable everyday

What it means

To overcome a difficult challenge through effort, courage, or skill.

Reach for it when using a strong metaphor for gaining mastery over a personal obstacle

Daily practice helped Luis conquer his fear of deep water.

Words to choose between 7

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom. Tap a word to see when it fits.
playful
everyday
warm
professional
formal
literary

  • playful

    beat

    Fits when informal competitive language fits a game or target

    Careful Beat can trivialize grief, disability, addiction, or chronic illness.

  • everyday

    defeat

    Fits when a clear opponent or obstacle is beaten

    Careful Defeat turns the challenge into an enemy and can sound harsh for illness or emotion.

  • warm

    get past

    Fits when modest conversational language avoids a triumph claim

    Careful Getting past something may mean avoidance rather than genuine resolution.

  • professional

    overcome

    Fits when a difficulty no longer prevents progress

    Careful Overcome is broad and may hide continued management or support needs.

  • formal

    master

    Fits when skill and control develop through practice

    Careful Mastery is stronger than progress and may never be final.

  • literary

    surmount

    Fits when persistent effort gets beyond a formidable barrier

    Careful Surmount is elevated and focuses on passing an obstacle rather than learning from it.

  • literary

    vanquish

    Fits when dramatic total victory is intentionally exaggerated

    Careful Vanquish is theatrical and falsely final for recurring challenges.

Opposites 3

  • succumb
  • surrender
  • be defeated

Common phrases 3

  • conquer fear

    Supported practice helped her conquer fear without rushing the final step.

  • conquer a challenge

    The team worked together to conquer a challenge none could solve alone.

  • help conquer

    Clear instructions can help conquer the anxiety of an unfamiliar task.

Usage notes

Keep in mind

Avoid conquest language for people, cultures, disability, grief, addiction, or chronic illness unless the person described chooses it.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated