Pyrrhic victory

English

WOTD – 5 July 2007

Etymology

Named after the Greek king Pyrrhus of Epirus, who suffered heavy losses while defeating the Romans.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˌpɪɹ.ɪk ˈvɪk.t(ə)ɹ.i/
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Noun

Pyrrhic victory (plural Pyrrhic victories)

  1. A very costly victory, wherein the considerable losses outweigh the gain, so as to render the struggle not worth the cost.
    • 2005 October 6, The Guardian:
      Tough pensions regulation designed to protect employees in final-salary occupational schemes will prove a pyrrhic victory for unions and the government, a report warned yesterday.
    • 2002 November 21, Amos Elon, “Israelis & Palestinians: What Went Wrong?”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name):
      We now know that it [the Six-Day War] was a Pyrrhic victory.

Synonyms

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See also

See also

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