Pyrrhic victory
English edit
Etymology edit
Named after the Greek king Pyrrhus of Epirus, who suffered heavy losses while defeating the Romans.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
Pyrrhic victory (plural Pyrrhic victories)
- 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[1]:
- 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)[2]:
- We now know that it [the Six-Day War] was a Pyrrhic victory.
Synonyms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
a costly victory
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