Heracles

American  

[her-uh-kleez] / ˈhɛr əˌkliz /

noun

1. Hercules.

2. Also called Heracles Furens.  (italics) a tragedy (420? b.c.) by Euripides.

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Heracles British  

/ ˈhɛrəˌkliːz /

noun

1. the usual name (in Greek) for Hercules 1

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Other Word Forms

• Heraclean adjective

Etymology

Origin of Heracles

From Greek Hēraklês, literally, “having the glory of Hera,” equivalent to Hḗra + -klēs, akin to kléos “glory, fame”; Hera

Compare meaning

How does heracles compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Heracles vs. Hercules

Example Sentences

Peter Bosz makes two changes to the PSV Eindhoven side that beat Heracles 2-0 on Friday.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2024

The most famous of these, perhaps, is the Greek myth in which Hera pushes away the baby Heracles from her bosom, and her breast milk spills from horizon to horizon.

From Scientific American • Aug. 4, 2023

The Macedonians did not speak Greek but had adopted Greek culture in the Archaic period, and their royal family claimed to be descended from the mythical Greek hero Heracles.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

Never mind Zeus or Heracles or any of the other Greek gods.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 27, 2022

I thought I saw the ones JoJo had pointed out to me, Hercules or Heracles or who cared anymore.

From "Adrift" by Paul Griffin