Sisyphus

American  

[sis-uh-fuhs] / ˈsɪs ə fəs /

noun

Classical Mythology.

1. a son of Aeolus and ruler of Corinth, noted for his trickery: he was punished in Tartarus by being compelled to roll a stone to the top of a slope, the stone always escaping him near the top and rolling down again.

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Sisyphus British  

/ ˈsɪsɪfəs /

noun

1. Greek myth a king of Corinth, punished in Hades for his misdeeds by eternally having to roll a heavy stone up a hill: every time he approached the top, the stone escaped his grasp and rolled to the bottom

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Sisyphus Cultural  

1. A king in classical mythology who offended Zeus and was punished in Hades by being forced to roll an enormous boulder to the top of a steep hill. Every time the boulder neared the top, it would roll back down, and Sisyphus would have to start over.

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Discover More

A difficult and futile endeavor may be called a “labor of Sisyphus” or a “Sisyphean task.”

Etymology

Origin of Sisyphus

From Latin Sisyphus, from Greek Sísyphos; probably of pre-Greek origin

Example Sentences

It’s like Sisyphus pushing the rock up the hill.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2026

But when I think of Sisyphus, I think of Philip Rivers: a quarterback who showed up every week, played through injuries and never reached the mountaintop.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 21, 2025

"Sisyphus was punished for his sins. For us it's a bit different," said Oleksandr, the plant's 53-year-old production manager.

From Barron's • Nov. 18, 2025

Like Sisyphus, many Americans probably feel like they continue to push a boulder up a hill, only for it to roll down the other side.

From Salon • Sep. 17, 2025

And lastly—I realize that this is the kind of deep and thoughtful question you always hoped your readers would ask—what becomes of Sisyphus the Hamster?

From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green