empire builder
Conqueror of nations
An empire builder is someone who aggressively expands their domain of control—whether a nation, business, or bureaucratic fiefdom.
The term can be admiring when applied to visionary founders who built commercial empires, but often carries a negative edge when describing executives or managers who accumulate staff, budget, and territory primarily to increase their own power: He's less interested in efficiency than in empire building.
- conquerorVictor who takes control
- land grabRapid territorial acquisition
- tycoonDominant industrial leader
- robber baronUnscrupulous wealthy industrialist
- mogulInfluential industry leader
captain of industry · dynasty · expansion · railroad · territory · dominion · ambition · colonizer · visionary · magnate · corporate raider · hostile takeover · acquisition · frontier · realm · conquest · industrialist · kingmaker
- business empirestycoon, mogul, magnate, conglomerate, monopoly
- business mogulstycoon, mogul, magnate, billionaire, titan
- colonialismcolony, colonization, colonial rule, colonial powers, colonizer
- Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great, Bucephalus, Darius, Alexandria, Gordian knot
- Historical GamesCivilization, Caesar, Pharaoh, Oregon Trail, Shogun
- entrepreneursfounder, co-founder, startup founder, business owner, serial entrepreneur
empire builderliberator
One who frees others
independence leader · freedom fighter · emancipator · secessionist · abolitionist
empire builderminimalist
One favoring bare essentials
downsizer · sole proprietor · maintainer · liquidator · simplifier
empire builderphilanthropist
Donor to charitable causes
ascetic · giver · minimalist
empire, builder, empires, imperial, imperialism, imperialist, imperialistic, imperially, emperor