Stygian
Americanadjective
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of or relating to the river Styx or to Hades.
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dark or gloomy.
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infernal; hellish.
adjective
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of or relating to the river Styx
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literary
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dark, gloomy, or hellish
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completely inviolable, as a vow sworn by the river Styx
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Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Stygian
1560–70; < Latin Stygi ( us ) < Greek Stýgios ( Styg-, stem of Stýx Styx + -ios adj. suffix) + -an
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.
They are the occupants of the outsize bunk bed at the center of Sabine Dargent’s set, shrouded in Stygian shadows by Mark Galione’s lighting.
From New York Times ● Jan. 14, 2019
There, Levi conjured a Stygian exoplanet of glissandos and microtones and processed percussive sounds, evoking the truly alien better than the most lavish special effects ever could have done.
From The New Yorker ● Feb. 23, 2017
Is the name a nod to the local passion for the Stygian side of the beer world?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 22, 2016
The pictures – dramatic, intense, Stygian and insistently putting the Bible into the here and now – were like nothing seen before and their effect was instantaneous.
From The Guardian ● Oct. 7, 2016
He was roughly the same height as Bob, with elaborate Stygian iron armor, a single diamond blazing in the center of his breastplate.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
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