pyrrhic

(of a victory) won at too great a cost to be of use by the victor; a metrical foot of two short or unaccented syllables

Not to be confused with:

pyretic – of, for, or producing a fever

pyr·rhic

(pĭr′ĭk)

A metrical foot having two short or unaccented syllables.

adj.

Of or characterized by pyrrhics.

[Latin pyrrhicius, from Greek purrikhios, from purrikhē, a war dance, perhaps from Purrikhos, supposed inventor of the dance.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

pyrrhic

(ˈpɪrɪk) prosody

(Poetry) a metrical foot of two short or unstressed syllables

adj

1. (Poetry) of or relating to such a metrical foot

2. (Poetry) (of poetry) composed in pyrrhics

[C16: via Latin, from Greek purrhikhē, traditionally said to be named after its inventor Purrhikhos]

pyrrhic

(ˈpɪrɪk)

1. (Dancing) a war dance of ancient Greece

2. (Historical Terms) a war dance of ancient Greece

adj

3. (Dancing) of or relating to this dance

4. (Historical Terms) of or relating to this dance

[C17: Latin from Greek purrhikhios belonging to the purrhikhē war dance performed in armour; see pyrrhic¹]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pyr•rhic

(ˈpɪr ɪk)
adj.

1. consisting of two short or unaccented syllables.

2. composed of or pertaining to pyrrhics.

3. a pyrrhic foot.

[1620–30; < Latin pyrrhichius < Greek pyrrhíchios literally, pertaining to the pyrrhíchē a dance imitating the motions of warfare]

pyrrhic

a metrical foot composed of two short or unaccented syllables. — pyrrhic, adj.

Pyrrhic

[ˈpɪrɪk] ADJ Pyrrhic victory → victoria f pírrica

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

Pyrrhic

adj Pyrrhic victory → Pyrrhussieg m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Poyser curtsied duly, and watched the two horses until they had disappeared from the yard, amidst great excitement on the part of the pigs and the poultry, and under the furious indignation of the bull-dog, who performed a Pyrrhic dance, that every moment seemed to threaten the breaking of his chain.

View in context

He says that is 'pyrrhic vindication' as the court 'disparages, disbelieves and castigates' him, without even hearing his point of view.

Justice Qazi Faez Isa challenges remarks against him in reference dismissal verdict-Requests Supreme Court to form full court

The result no matter whether India wins or Pakistan would be pyrrhic.

Kashmir and Indian foreign secretaries

While the PTI spokesperson revels over the success in keeping Mr Sanjrani in office, the horse trading that led to the Pyrrhic victory would remain a blot on the PTI's tenure.

Call of conscience

With the Indian elections only weeks away many in the Pakistani government were prepared for another military misadventure by a Prime Minister intent on exploiting anti-Pakistan rhetoric the pyrrhic nature of the airstrikes, with the capture of a pilot, would certainly not satisfy Modi and his Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP).

Political Theatre In Space

He said: 'At the barrel of the gun, today, Nigerians are cowed and captured evidently by the non-celebration of this Pyrrhic victory by anyone in Nigeria except those who hoped to benefit directly from it, which is characteristics of a thief that came in the night to deprive residents of their belongings, leaving them in anguish and nightmare.

Fayose Commends Nigerians, Says; 'No Victory Songs For Buhari'

However, this is nothing more than a pyrrhic victory.

Washington punishes Armenia for Syria

Landing in Hell: The Pyrrhic Victory of the First Marine Division on Peleliu, 1944

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148's ruling was 'pyrrhic victory,' since it upheld the revocation of Trillanes' amnesty.

Trillanes told: It's not over

Panelo claimed the court's decision was a Pyrrhic victory' for Trillanes.

Calida eyes raising Trillanes ruling to Court of Appeals

Noun	1.	pyrrhic - a metrical unit with unstressed-unstressed syllables dibrach metrical foot, metrical unit, foot - (prosody) a group of 2 or 3 syllables forming the basic unit of poetic rhythm
	2.	pyrrhic - an ancient Greek dance imitating the motions of warfare ceremonial dance, ritual dance, ritual dancing - a dance that is part of a religious ritual
Adj.	1.	pyrrhic - of or relating to a war dance of ancient Greece; "pyrrhic dance movements"
	2.	pyrrhic - of or relating to or containing a metrical foot of two unstressed syllables; "pyrrhic verses"
	3.	pyrrhic - of or relating to or resembling Pyrrhus or his exploits (especially his sustaining staggering losses in order to defeat the Romans); "a Pyrrhic victory"