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Sardanapalian

American  
[sahr-dn-uh-peyl-yuhn, -pey-lee-uhn] / ˌsɑr dn əˈpeɪl jən, -ˈpeɪ li ən /

adjective

  1. excessively luxurious or sensual.


Etymology

Origin of Sardanapalian

1865–70; Sardanapal ( us ) a legendary Assyrian king proverbial for his decadence (< Latin < Greek Sardanápal ( l ) os, perhaps ultimately < Akkadian Aššur-ban-apli Ashurbanipal) + -ian

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

And it was for this, then, that all these Sardanapalian accusations had been piled upon my head.

From Eyes Like the Sea by Jókai, Mór

The Sardanapalian motto, "Laugh, sing, dance, and be merry," seems to be universally adopted in this "City of the Plague."

From A Ramble of Six Thousand Miles through the United States of America by Ferrall, S. A. (Simon Ansley)

The first movement has the martial pomp and hauteur and the Sardanapalian opulence and color that mark 294 a barbaric triumph.

From Contemporary American Composers Being a Study of the Music of This Country, Its Present Conditions and Its Future, with Critical Estimates and Biographies of the Principal Living Composers; and an Abundance of Portraits, Fac-simile Musical Autographs, and Compositions by Hughes, Rupert

The cacique was taken prisoner and with him his entire Sardanapalian court.

From De Orbe Novo, Volume 1 (of 2) The Eight Decades of Peter Martyr D'Anghera by MacNutt, Francis Augustus

His natural indolence disappeared; the Sardanapalian sloth was thrown off, and he took a station in the van of her efforts that bespoke heroic achievement.

From The Life of Lord Byron by Galt, John

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