conquer，defeat，vanquish，overcome，surmount

These words mean to get the better of or to bring into subjection whether by the exercise of force or of strategy.
这组词均指动用武力或采 取某种策略、手段去占上风,或使对方处于从属地位。
 
Conquer implies a large and significant action or an action involving an all-inclusive effort and a more or less permanent result.conquer
是个 普通用词,词义较广,意味着用暴力取胜,多用于指采取大规模的或重大 的行动。
例如在战争中.大规模动用武力来获取胜利或征服对方。
它强 调对战败者及其领土的长久统治或控制。有时还暗示精神、民心的被征 服。
也可喻指破除恶习或克服困难等意思。
The Romans ～ed parts of Britain in the 1st century B.C.
在公元前一世纪,罗马人占领了不列颠部 分领土。
Imperialism tried in vain to ～ a small country by force of arms.
帝国主义枉费心机,妄图用武力征服一个小国家。
Some countries may be defeated but never ～ed.
有些国家可能会被打败,但决 不会被征服。
The boy～ed his fear of the dark by walking alone in the wood at night.
这个男孩通过晚间在树林里独自行走,来克服害怕黑 暗的心理。
The Chinese mountaineers～ed Mt.Jolmo Lungma,the highest mountain in the world,when they reached its summit.
中国登山 运动员登上珠穆朗玛峰顶,从而征服了世界上的最高峰。
Science has ～ed yellow fever.科学征服了黄热病。 
Defeat usually signifies merely the fact of getting the better of or winning against and may imply no more than a temporary checking or frustrating.
defeat通常只是指击败对方,获取胜利。
但是这个胜利往往 是暂时的,是就目前而言的,并不意味着最后决定性的胜利。
The enemy were～ed in the battle.
敌军在这次战斗中被击败了。
He～ed his opponents in this election.
他在这次选举中击败了对手。
Our school ～ed their school at football.
在足球比赛中,我们学校胜了他们学 校。 
Vanquish suggests a significant action of a certain dignity usually in the defeat of a person rather than a thing and usually carrying the suggestion of complete defeat.
vanquish是文学用语,含义与conquer很相 近,与conquer不同的是:
①它着重指在战斗或较量中彻底击败对手,这 个对手往往是某个人或某支军队;而conquer除了指战胜敌人外还可指 征服或占领某个地理区域或政治实体。
②vanquish指一次性成功的征服; 而conquer则指继续努力达到彻底征服的目的。
vanquish也可用作比 喻,表示抑制某种心理或赢得某人的心等意思。
They～ed the enemy in battle.
他们在战斗中彻底击败了敌人。
Though ～ed,he could argue still.
尽管被击败了,他仍可以争辩。
He～ed his opponents in a championship match at tennis.
他在网球锦标赛中击败了他的那些对手。
～ fear
克服恐惧
She tried to～every one who comes near her.
她企图征服 所有靠近她的人。 
Overcome usually implies an opposing,more or less fixed obstacle to be dealt with and a high degree of effectiveness in dealing therewith whether by direct conflict or perhaps more often by indirect means.
overcome在本组词中语气最弱,它指通过直接的冲突,尤其是通过间接的手 段成功地克服或战胜某个障碍或困难。
它多用于抽象的、精神方面的东 西。有时也可指控制或影响某人的行为。
They overcame all kinds of difficulties and fulfilled the task.
他们战胜了种种困难,完成了任务。 
They have～the serious disaster and made new advances in agriculture.
他们战胜了严重灾害,在农业上取得了新的进展。
You should～ bureaucracy.你们应该克服官僚主义。
Overcome by fear,the enemy soldiers took to their heels.敌人吓得掉头便跑。
I had to ～the temptation to laugh at his mistake.对于他出的错,我强忍住没笑出来。
How are we going to～their suspicion?我们怎样去消除他们的疑心呢? 
Surmount implies an opposing,more or less fixed obstacle but carries the idea of surpassing or exceeding rather than overcoming in face-to-face conflict.
surmount同overcome一样,暗示存在着对抗性的、 固定存在的障碍,但该词通常含有胜过或超越的意味,而不象overcome 那样带有通过面对面的冲突排除障碍的意味。
Lincoln ～ed many difficulties before he rose to be President.
林肯上台当总统之前,克服了许许 多多的困难。
Peace negotiators must～mutual suspicion and resentment.
参加和谈的人员必须克服相互的猜疑与嫉恨。
He never quite ～ed the affliction caused by the death of a deeply loved daughter.
他一 直没有完全从爱女夭折给他带来的痛苦中解脱出来。