Sybaris

American

[sib-uh-ris] / ˈsɪb ə rɪs /

noun

an ancient Greek city in S Italy: noted for its wealth and luxury; destroyed 510 b.c.

Sybaris British

/ ˈsɪbərɪs /

noun

a Greek colony in S Italy, on the Gulf of Taranto: notorious for its luxurious living, founded about 720 _bc and sacked in 510

"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

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.

Of all the cities of the ancient world, none was more opulent than Sybaris, which was settled by Greek colonists on the instep of the Italian boot near the Ionian coast.

From Time Magazine Archive

Sybaris was leveled to the ground, and the Crotonians made the river Crathis flow over the ruins and cover the site with silt.

From Time Magazine Archive

By 1966, the port of Sybaris had been located and mapped.

From Time Magazine Archive

This endless quest for pleasure may well have led to the downfall of Sybaris.

From Time Magazine Archive

“Dinosaur teeth—ha! Those foolish mortals don’t even know when they have dragon teeth in their possession. And not just any dragon teeth. These come from the ancient Sybaris herself! They shall do nicely.”

From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023