overcome

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