herculean

[hur-kyuh-lee-uhn, hur-kyoo-lee-uhn]

adjective

1. requiring the great strength of a Hercules; very hard to perform.

   Digging the tunnel was a herculean task.

   Synonyms: formidable, onerous, arduous, prodigious

2. having enormous strength, courage, or size.

3. (initial capital letter),  of or relating to Hercules or his labors.

herculean

/ ˌhɜːkjʊˈliːən /

adjective

1. requiring tremendous effort, strength, etc

   a herculean task

2. (sometimes capital) resembling Hercules in strength, courage, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of herculean¹

1590–1600; < Latin Hercule ( us ) of, belonging to Hercules + -an

Example Sentences

Tyler Finkle, a structural engineer who has restored offshore lighthouses across the country, said that while restoration seems “like a herculean task,” it is doable.

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That change is harder still in organizations rooted in old forms of predigital content delivery: changing form and content at the same time is herculean.

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It also takes on the herculean task of merging many of the ongoing tones and deepest themes of the project.

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Convincing Columbia Records to support his new work was a herculean struggle for Springsteen.

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Getting there required a herculean effort, the Dodgers digging out of a big early hole that had been entirely of their own making.

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