区别辨析conquer、overcome、overthrow、defeat、beat与subdue
conquer、overcome、overthrow、defeat、beat与subdue这些动词均含“征服、战胜”之意。
conquer : 侧重战胜和控制。书面用词。
The Spanish conquered the New World in the 16th century.
西班牙人在16世纪征服了新大陆。
The English were conquered by the Normans in 1066.
诺曼人于1066年征服了英格兰人
overcome : 多指战胜或克服非物质的东西，如困难和不良习惯等。语气较弱也可指在斗争或竞争中战胜或压倒对方。
Juventus overcame Ajax in a thrilling game.
在这场扣人心弦的比赛中，尤文图斯队战胜了阿贾克斯队。
to overcome difficulties/obstacles/problems/resistance
克服困难／障碍／难题／阻力
Eventually she managed to overcome her shyness in class.
她终于克服了上课时的羞怯。
overthrow : 指彻底击败对手，使其丧失力量和地位。
He said that Allende's government in Chile was overthrown by the army and the CIA in 1973.
他说智利的阿连德政府1973年是被军队和中央情报局推翻的。
The president was overthrown in a military coup.
总统在军事政变中被赶下台。
defeat : 普通用词，多指在战争、比赛、竞选或辩论中战胜对手，侧重胜利的暂时性。
They defeated the Italian team and reached the final.
他们打败了意大利队，晋身决赛。
He defeated the champion in three sets.
他三盘击败了冠军。
beat : 口笔语均可用，可与defeat换用。
Simon always beats me at tennis.
西蒙打网球总是赢我。
Holland beat Belgium (by) 3–1.
荷兰队3比1战胜比利时队。
The Miami Heat beat the Pacers 95-90/by five points.
迈阿密热火队以95比90五分的优势击败了印第安纳步行者队。
subdue : 正式用词，与 conquer 同义，但侧重指使用较强的武力控制某人或某物并使之屈服，从而阻止其存在或发展。
刀剑威逼顺者少，好言劝说人皆服。
Swords conquer some, but words subdue all men.
政府高级官员承认他们还没能镇压这场暴乱。
Senior government officials admit they have not been able to subdue the mutiny.
我们强忍着笑。
We subdued a desire to laugh.
那个胆小的女孩强迫自己克制并战胜恐惧心理。
The timid girl forced herself to subdue and overcome her fears.
（拓展学习：小词详解 | subdue）