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Promethean

American  
[pruh-mee-thee-uhn] / prəˈmi θi ən /

adjective

  1. of or suggestive of Prometheus.

  2. creative; boldly original.


noun

  1. a person who resembles Prometheus in spirit or action.

Promethean British  
/ prəˈmiːθɪən /

adjective

  1. of or relating to Prometheus

  2. creative, original, or life-enhancing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a person who resembles Prometheus

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Promethean

First recorded in 1590–1600; Promethe(us) + -an


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

This city of dreaming spires has lit the Promethean flame under poets and artists for centuries, but its latest architectural offering—20-yard rail and foot bridges connecting Oxford Station over Botley Road—has underwhelmed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Yeah, I expect some hate mail for "Promethean," because it sounds so darned elitist and stupid all at once.

From Salon ● Jan. 5, 2025

Johnson urged his audience to call forth the "can-do Promethean spirit that will get us out of this mess".

From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2022

You can always trust James Vincent to come up with a Promethean metaphor: The big idea is that AI, like some ancient god, is finally stepping down from the clouds to walk among the people.

From The Verge ● Sep. 15, 2020

Mrs. Medina puts up a graphic on the Promethean board.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh

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