Augean
Americanadjective
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resembling the Augean stables in filthiness or degradation.
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difficult and unpleasant.
an Augean chore.
adjective
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012Etymology
Origin of Augean
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin Augē(us) of Augeas ( Greek Augeí(ās) + -us adjective suffix) + -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.
A moment in Greek mythology comes to mind: Hercules and the Augean Stables.
From Salon
She made everyone else look overdone and overdressed, washing the Augean stables of Cannes clean.
From New York Times
He likened the Internet to the Augean stables in Greek mythology, which needed Hercules to divert two rivers to wash away decades of manure.
From Reuters
It is also going to be an Augean task for those who encircled Trump to distance themselves and rehab their reputations.
From New York Times
No one’s ever actually done that — not on such a scale with three stars all volunteering to clean the Augean stables.
From Washington Post
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
