Pyrrhic victory

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See synonyms for Pyrrhic victory on Thesaurus.com

noun

a victory or goal achieved at too great a cost.

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Compare Cadmean victory.

Origin of Pyrrhic victory

1880–85; <Greek Pyrrikós; after a remark attributed by Plutarch to Pyrrhus, who declared, after a costly victory over the Romans, that another similar victory would ruin him

Words nearby Pyrrhic victory

pyroxene, pyroxenite, pyroxylin, Pyrrha, pyrrhic, Pyrrhic victory, Pyrrho, Pyrrhonism, pyrrhotite, pyrrhuloxia, Pyrrhus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Pyrrhic victory in a sentence

It is not a decisive war, with a single, signature victory, but a war of attrition.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War|Nancy A. Youssef|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And the bells chimed for victory at 1211 Avenue of the Americas.
Why I’m for the War on Christmas|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On May 9, which Moscow commemorates as World War II “Victory Day,” Klaus paid a highly visible visit to the Russian Embassy.
Vaclav Klaus, Libertarian Hero, Has His Wings Clipped by Cato Institute|James Kirchick|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Kurdish forces declared victory and freed Yazidi holdouts, with help from U.S. air power.
Iraqi Kurds Get Their Groove Back, End Siege of Mount Sinjar|Jamie Dettmer|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Besides, victory fever had spread like wildfire throughout the Allied armies.
Hitler’s Hail Mary|James A. Warren|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He signalized himself by a great victory which he obtained on the banks of the Neva, over the northern powers.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
He has been ashore at Kum Kale and reports violent fighting and, for the time being, victory.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
But, instead of following up their victory, the half-resolute rioters camped near Guadalupe for the night.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
The trophies of the victory were six men of war and all of their East India ships, and between four and five thousand prisoners.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
He marched to meet it with the throbbing pulses of a soldier rushing to victory or a saint to martyrdom.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for Pyrrhic victory

Pyrrhic victory

noun

a victory in which the victor's losses are as great as those of the defeatedAlso called: Cadmean victory

Word Origin for Pyrrhic victory

named after Pyrrhus, who defeated the Romans at Asculum in 279 bc but suffered heavy losses

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

Cultural definitions for Pyrrhic victory

Pyrrhic victory

[ (peer-ik) ]

A victory that is accompanied by enormous losses and leaves the winners in as desperate shape as if they had lost. Pyrrhus was an ancient general who, after defeating the Romans, told those who wished to congratulate him, “One more such victory and Pyrrhus is undone.”

Other Idioms and Phrases with Pyrrhic victory

Pyrrhic victory

A victory that is offset by staggering losses, as in The campaign was so divisive that even though he won the election it was a Pyrrhic victory. This expression alludes to Kind Pyrrhus of Epirus, who defeated the Romans at Asculum in b.c. 279, but lost his best officers and many of his troops. Pyrrhus then said: “Another such victory and we are lost.” In English the term was first recorded (used figuratively) in 1879.