conquering
noun
Conquering — the active process of subduing and gaining mastery over
Definition
The act of conquering
In depth
Conquering is the act of conquering, the active process of overcoming, subduing, or gaining mastery over an opponent, territory, or challenge through force or sustained effort. The word spans military conquest and the broader figurative sense of overcoming significant personal or professional obstacles.
Origin
The word descends from Latin conquirere, to search out or procure, formed from con- (thoroughly) and quaerere (to seek), the same root behind 'conquest' and 'acquire.' That underlying sense of thorough seeking and procuring, rather than mere violent destruction, suggests an older conceptual link between conquest and acquisition, the conquered territory or challenge ultimately becoming, through the act of conquering, genuinely one's own.
Usage examples
"Conquering the mountain had taken her three previous failed attempts before finally succeeding."
"The empire's relentless conquering of neighboring territories continued for nearly a century."
"Conquering her fear of public speaking required years of deliberate, uncomfortable practice."
How to use it
Conquering works naturally across both literal military and figurative personal achievement contexts, particularly common in motivational and biographical writing describing the overcoming of significant obstacles or challenges.
Related concepts
Looking for a word but don't know its name?
Try the Word Finder →