pyrrhic

¹ American  

[pir-ik] / ˈpɪr ɪk /

adjective

1. consisting of two short or unaccented syllables.

2. composed of or pertaining to pyrrhics.

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noun

1. Also called dibrach.  a pyrrhic foot.

pyrrhic ² American  

[pir-ik] / ˈpɪr ɪk /

noun

1. an ancient Greek warlike dance in which the motions of actual warfare were imitated.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or denoting this dance.

Pyrrhic ³ American  

[pir-ik] / ˈpɪr ɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, or his costly victory.

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pyrrhic ¹ British  

/ ˈpɪrɪk /

noun

1. a metrical foot of two short or unstressed syllables

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adjective

1. of or relating to such a metrical foot

2. (of poetry) composed in pyrrhics

pyrrhic ² British  

/ ˈpɪrɪk /

noun

1. a war dance of ancient Greece

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adjective

1. of or relating to this dance

Etymology

Origin of pyrrhic¹

1620–30; < Latin pyrrhichius < Greek pyrrhíchios pertaining to the pyrrhíchē pyrrhic ²

Origin of pyrrhic²

1590–1600; < Latin pyrrhicha < Greek pyrrhíchē a dance; said to be named after Pyrrhichus, the inventor

Origin of Pyrrhic³

First recorded in 1880–85; Pyrrh(us) + -ic

Explanation

Use the adjective pyrrhic to describe a victory that is won, but at too great a cost. In this use as an adjective, the word is often capitalized. The word pyrrhic comes from the Greek general, Pyrrhus, who defeated the Romans at the Battle of Asculum but lost so many troops that he couldn't defeat Rome itself. If you are the winner in an argument with your brother, but the fight ends up ruining your relationship with him, it's a Pyrrhic victory. An ancient Greek war dance is also called a pyrrhic.

Example Sentences

Fischer has a gift for highlighting the ways that moments that we now accept as inevitable were often the product of dumb luck, pyrrhic victories and tough decisions.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

It was the first of many pyrrhic outcomes for hijackers, whose goals soon devolved from liberating Palestine to liberating imprisoned authors of previous hijackings.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

If you win, it may turn out to be a pyrrhic victory.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 28, 2025

Gen. Saltzman said that the U.S. military wants to avoid a pyrrhic victory if war breaks out in space.

From Washington Times • Nov. 16, 2023

She deserved to hurl whatever was available, to keep us moving, to speak in counterpoint to the deadening strings of my pyrrhic feet.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee