Thucydides

American  

[thoo-sid-i-deez] / θuˈsɪd ɪˌdiz /

noun

1. c460–c400 b.c., Greek historian.

---

Thucydides British  

/ θuːˈsɪdɪˌdiːz /

noun

1. ?460–?395 _bc , Greek historian and politician, distinguished for his History of the Peloponnesian War

---

Thucydides Cultural  

1. An ancient Greek historian and general. Thucydides' history of the Peloponnesian War, in which he fought, is famous for its careful reporting of events and its sharp analysis of causes and effects.

---

Other Word Forms

• Thucydidean
  adjective

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Thucydides

Mr. Xi’s reference to the Thucydides Trap in his public remarks last week was revealing of that self-belief.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026

Trump also responded to a comment by Xi referring to the "Thucydides Trap," a political theory that war becomes more likely when a rising new power competes with an established great power.

From Barron's ● May 14, 2026

Perhaps Thucydides had something to say about the folly of war that they wouldn’t have appreciated had they remained civilians.

From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2026

Thucydides, whose history of the Peloponnesian War shows the mark of his involvement in early campaigns, called the Athenians “severe and exacting.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026

She studied history written by Herodotus and Thucydides, which included political and military events of the past, and memorized the speeches of Demosthenes to learn the fine points of public speaking and debate.

From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby