pyrrhic
0 antonyms and opposites of pyrrhic, grouped by meaning.
Adjective — Describing a victory won at such a heavy cost that it is barely worth having, and may leave the winner weaker than before.
How to use pyrrhic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Formal and literary; almost always in the phrase "pyrrhic victory".
Etymology
The victory sense is from Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, whose armies beat the Romans at Heraclea and Asculum in the 3rd century BC at losses so severe the wins ruined him. The metrical foot is a separate word, from Greek pyrrhiche, an ancient war dance, and has no connection to Pyrrhus.
Full origin of pyrrhic →Frequently asked questions
What is a pyrrhic victory?
It is a win whose cost is so high that it does the winner more harm than good — the battle is taken but the army is destroyed. The phrase is used far beyond warfare, for lawsuits, elections, arguments and business deals.
Should "pyrrhic" be capitalised?
Both forms appear, because the word comes from a personal name. Modern style guides generally prefer lower-case "pyrrhic victory", the way "quixotic" is lower case.
How do you pronounce pyrrhic?
PIRR-ik, rhyming roughly with "lyric". The double r is not rolled and the h is silent.