Charybdis

American  

[kuh-rib-dis] / kəˈrɪb dɪs /

noun

1. Modern Name Garofalo.  Modern Name Galofalo.  a whirlpool in the Strait of Messina off the NE coast of Sicily.

2. Classical Mythology. a daughter of Gaia and Poseidon, a monster mentioned in Homer and later identified with the whirlpool Charybdis.

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Charybdis British  

/ kəˈrɪbdɪs /

noun

1. a ship-devouring monster in classical mythology, identified with a whirlpool off the north coast of Sicily, lying opposite Scylla on the Italian coast Compare Scylla

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Other Word Forms

• Charybdian adjective

Etymology

Origin of Charybdis

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English Karibdous, Karybdys, from Latin Charybdis, from Greek Chárybdis; further origin uncertain

Example Sentences

The 100-year-old saw combat with HMS Charybdis in the Mediterranean on the Malta Convoys in 1942 and was involved in the invasion of Sicily in the summer of 1943.

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2025

Charybdis, a mythical female sea monster, is often depicted as a bottomless sucking whirlpool, but there’s power in accepting your hunger, whether it’s for food or love or armies crossing the sea in boats.

From Slate • Oct. 28, 2024

The Charybdis, which is being built in Brownsville, Texas, is about 70 percent complete, and Dominion expects to have it available for Orsted’s Revolution Wind project, near the Connecticut coast.

From New York Times • Dec. 11, 2023

In Texas, Dominion is also currently building the Charybdis, the first Jones Act-compliant offshore wind-installation vessel and says it strongly supports the Act.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 15, 2023

"Clarisse,” I said, "Charybdis sucks up the sea. Isn't that the story?”

From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan