herculean

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

/ ˌhɜr kyəˈli ən, hɜrˈkyu li ən /

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adjective

requiring the great strength of a Hercules; very hard to perform: Digging the tunnel was a herculean task.

having enormous strength, courage, or size.

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

OTHER WORDS FOR herculean

1 prodigious, arduous, onerous, formidable.

See synonyms for herculean on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of herculean

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

Words nearby herculean

herb Robert, herby, Hercegovina, Herceptin, Herculaneum, herculean, Hercules, Hercules beetle, Hercules-club, Hercynian, hercynite

How to use herculean in a sentence

The main conclusion is that a startling number of these athletes, who are presumably performing herculean feats in their training, are falling way short of their sleep goals.
Elite Athletes Don’t Sleep As Much As You Think|mmirhashem|July 20, 2021|Outside Online
It’s already a herculean task, and allows brains to literally link to a computer.
A New Brain Implant Automatically Detects and Kills Pain in Real Time|Shelly Fan|June 29, 2021|Singularity Hub
So, this was a herculean effort that has gone on all the time trying to do the vaccine studies for coronavirus disease, which we were also incredibly successful in.
HIV research sped development of COVID vaccine|Lou Chibbaro Jr.|June 23, 2021|Washington Blade
Although slots are being made available now, it may be too little, too late for such a herculean task.
Tech issues are blocking the road to US student visas for Indian hopefuls|Ananya Bhattacharya|June 23, 2021|Quartz

I mean, once you get a surge start happening, then it takes a herculean effort to turn it around.
As variants surge, efforts in a patchwork of surveillance have ramped up to detect them|Erin Cox, Jenna Portnoy|April 11, 2021|Washington Post
For women with ADHD conforming to these problematic standards is a herculean task.
Adult Women Are the New Face of ADHD|Rae Jacobson|June 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Those versions of the story present a Herculean drama of man versus nature.
Polar Explorer vs. Reality TV Crew: Tim Jarvis in the Footsteps of Shackleton|Darrell Hartman|January 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It goes back to the Greeks and the idea of sport as some sort of Herculean sacrifice without personal enrichment.
The Unwarranted Mythology of Oscar Pistorius|Buzz Bissinger|February 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Now even the scaled-down agreement is proving a herculean task.
Biden, McConnell Race to Avoid Fiscal Cliff|Howard Kurtz|December 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Tangling with the ancients in this way takes a certain Herculean arrogance.
A Manifesto for Disorder: Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s ‘Antifragile’ Reviewed|Robert Herritt|November 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
She comprehended at a glance his herculean abilities, and the important aid he could render the Republican cause.
Madame Roland, Makers of History|John S. C. Abbott
My thoughts had never depicted such a herculean and rude specimen of humanity.
The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands|R.M. Ballantyne
It was a complete breakdown, pitiful from its contrast with the man's herculean physique and fine, if contracted, features.
The Circular Study|Anna Katharine Green
Between these Herculean shoulders rose a neck of which the muscles stood out like cords.
Chicot the Jester|Alexandre Dumas, Pere
No boisterous revelry—all seemed to sleep innocent and calm in the moonlight after the day of herculean toil.
It Is Never Too Late to Mend|Charles Reade

British Dictionary definitions for herculean

herculean

/ (ˌhɜːkjʊˈliːən) /

adjective

requiring tremendous effort, strength, etca herculean task

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

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

herculean

OTHER WORDS FOR herculean

Origin of herculean

Words nearby herculean

Words related to herculean

How to use herculean in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for herculean