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

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

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

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 27, 2022

American midfielder Luca de la Torre scored his first goal of the season, helping Heracles beat Zwolle 2-0 in the Dutch Eredivisie.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 27, 2022

The title was duly delivered on home soil the following week with captain Dirk Kuyt scoring a hat-trick in a 3-1 home win over Heracles.

From BBC • Nov. 18, 2021

Just think King Arthur meets Heracles with a dash of Thor and multiply that by fifty thousand.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda