Stygian

[ stij-ee-uh n ]
/ ˈstɪdʒ i ən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR Stygian ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to the river Styx or to Hades.
dark or gloomy.
infernal; hellish.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT
Also styg·i·an (for defs 2, 3).

Origin of Stygian

1560–70; < Latin Stygi(us) < Greek Stýgios (Styg-, stem of Stýx Styx + -ios adj. suffix) + -an

OTHER WORDS FROM Stygian

trans-Styg·i·an, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to stygian

dim, misty, murky, shadowy, overcast, somber, cloudy, dingy, gloomy, black, drab, foggy, dull, darkened, jet, slate, onyx, coal, sable, pitch

Example sentences from the Web for stygian

British Dictionary definitions for stygian

Stygian
/ (ˈstɪdʒɪən) /

adjective

of or relating to the river Styx
mainly literary
  1. dark, gloomy, or hellish
  2. completely inviolable, as a vow sworn by the river Styx

Word Origin for Stygian

C16: from Latin Stygius, from Greek Stugios, from Stux Styx; related to stugein to hate
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