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Pyrrhic. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
Pyrrhic, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
Pyrrhic in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
From Pyrrhus (318-272 BC), a king of Epirus whose forces sustained heavy losses in defeating the Romans + -ic.
Pronunciation
Adjective
Pyrrhic (comparative more Pyrrhic, superlative most Pyrrhic)
- (not comparable) Of or relating to Pyrrhus (319/318–272 BC), Greek general and statesman.
The Pyrrhic army lost the Pyrrhic war.
- Achieved at too great a cost or detriment to have been worthwhile (as a victory, accomplishment, etc).
1993, Steven Berglas, Roy F. Baumeister, Your Own Worst Enemy: Understanding the Paradox, page 166:Although this syndrome is thought to resemble patterns of Pyrrhic revenge […]
2010, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, The Black Swan, page 19:I feared a Pyrrhic victory: I had been vindicated intellectually, but I was afraid of being too right and seeing the system crumble under my feet.
- (achieved at too great a cost): pyrrhic
Translations
of or relating to Pyrrhus (319/318–272 BC), Greek general and statesman
achieved at excessive cost
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