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
Example Sentences
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 1995After 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) 1994It used to be that men "conquered" mountains in a cacophony of gratuitous chest-thumping. Tim Cahill, New York Times Book Review, 10 June 1990But 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. See More
Recent Examples on the WebUnder Zuckerberg's leadership, Meta began a campaign to conquer virtual reality in 2014 with its acquisition of headset maker Oculus VR. Marcy Gordon, ajc, 27 July 2022 There are lots of ways to hike the Ice Age Trail, from challenging yourself to conquer the whole thing to focusing on some specific segments whenever the season is most to your liking. Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 29 July 2022 On Wednesday, the Fed raised its benchmark rate by a sizable three-quarters of a point for a second straight time in its push to conquer the worst inflation outbreak in four decades. Paul Wiseman, Anchorage Daily News, 29 July 2022 On Wednesday, the Fed raised its benchmark rate by a sizable three-quarters of a point for a second straight time in its push to conquer the worst inflation outbreak in four decades. Paul Wiseman, ajc, 28 July 2022 Cruise demurred and set his sights on other mountains to conquer, from pool-hustling with Paul Newman to helping Dustin Hoffman win another Oscar. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2022 Bella Hadid returned to France to conquer the Cannes Film Festival red carpet. Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 25 May 2022 Discord was an app that enabled real-time voice and text chatting, so friends could team up to conquer an obstacle, or just chat while exploring a game world. Brianna Dym, The Conversation, 15 Mar. 2022 With interest rates at historic lows today, precisely how high Powell would have to raise them to conquer inflation is far from clear. Damon Linker, The Week, 15 Mar. 2022 See More
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