pyrrhic

¹ American  

[pir-ik] / ˈpɪr ɪk /

adjective

1. consisting of two short or unaccented syllables.

2. composed of or pertaining to pyrrhics.

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noun

1. Also called dibrach.  a pyrrhic foot.

pyrrhic ² American  

[pir-ik] / ˈpɪr ɪk /

noun

1. an ancient Greek warlike dance in which the motions of actual warfare were imitated.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or denoting this dance.

Pyrrhic ³ American  

[pir-ik] / ˈpɪr ɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, or his costly victory.

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pyrrhic ¹ British  

/ ˈpɪrɪk /

noun

1. a metrical foot of two short or unstressed syllables

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adjective

1. of or relating to such a metrical foot

2. (of poetry) composed in pyrrhics

pyrrhic ² British  

/ ˈpɪrɪk /

noun

1. a war dance of ancient Greece

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adjective

1. of or relating to this dance

Etymology

Origin of pyrrhic¹

1620–30; < Latin pyrrhichius < Greek pyrrhíchios pertaining to the pyrrhíchē pyrrhic ²

Origin of pyrrhic²

1590–1600; < Latin pyrrhicha < Greek pyrrhíchē a dance; said to be named after Pyrrhichus, the inventor

Origin of Pyrrhic³

First recorded in 1880–85; Pyrrh(us) + -ic

Example Sentences

If you win, it may turn out to be a pyrrhic victory.

From MarketWatch

Its pyrrhic victory on the eastern front was fundamental, like the western front Allied assault that followed D-Day, in bringing Nazi Germany to its knees.

From BBC

Gen. Saltzman said that the U.S. military wants to avoid a pyrrhic victory if war breaks out in space.

From Washington Times

"It would be a pyrrhic victory to weather the storm and continue to trade independently if doing so stunted its recovery potential," said Guy Foster, chief strategist at wealth manager RBC Brewin Dolphin.

From Reuters

Some experts say any Russian victory could be pyrrhic - that is, not worth the cost.

From BBC