student asking question

What's the difference between "conquer" and "overcome"?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

I would say that there is not really a difference between these words, they are essentially synonymous. However, their usage does vary. The most usual use of "conquer" is about war or conflict. But it can also be used metaphorically, which is how it is being used here, talking about weight loss. "Overcome" is more common in daily life and, generally, "conquer" is used for bigger, more dramatic kinds of overcoming. Ex: I conquered my fear of heights. Ex: I overcame my fear of heights.

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