pyrrhic

1 of 2

noun

pyr·​rhic ˈpir-ik 

: a metrical foot consisting of two short or unaccented syllables

Pyrrhic

2 of 2

adjective

Pyr·​rhic ˈpir-ik 

: achieved at excessive cost

a Pyrrhic victory

also : costly to the point of negating or outweighing expected benefits

a great but Pyrrhic act of ingenuity

Examples of pyrrhic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Indeed, China’s victory over its democratic opponents in this round may yet prove pyrrhic for at least two reasons. —Scott Harold, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2014

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin pyrrhichius, from Greek (pous) pyrrhichios, from pyrrhichē, a kind of dance

Adjective

Pyrrhus, king of Epirus who sustained heavy losses in defeating the Romans

First Known Use

Noun

1610, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1675, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pyrrhic

• Pyrrhic victory