Herculean
adjective /ˌhɜːkjʊˈliːən/ — Requiring extraordinary strength, courage, or effort.
Definition
Of a scale or difficulty requiring the strength or perseverance of Hercules — a task enormous enough that only exceptional capacity could achieve it.
Beyond the definition
The twelve labours of Hercules were designed to be impossible — and he completed them anyway. Herculean describes that quality of a challenge: not merely difficult, but requiring something beyond normal human range.
Origin & history
From Hercules (the Roman name) or Herakles (Greek) — the greatest hero of classical mythology, famed for his extraordinary strength and the completion of twelve impossible labours as atonement.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The task of restructuring the entire organisation proved herculean but not impossible.
She made a herculean effort to stay composed during the cross-examination.
Herculean patience was required — the kind most people simply don't have.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Herculean” when the meaning fits your context: Of a scale or difficulty requiring the strength or perseverance of Hercules — a task enormous enough that only exceptional capacity could achieve it.
Synonyms
monumental, immense, extraordinary, superhuman
Antonyms
trivial, minor, manageable
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Herculean" mean?
Herculean is adjective meaning: Requiring extraordinary strength, courage, or effort.. Of a scale or difficulty requiring the strength or perseverance of Hercules — a task enormous enough that only exceptional capacity could achieve it.
Where does the word "Herculean" come from?
From Hercules (the Roman name) or Herakles (Greek) — the greatest hero of classical mythology, famed for his extraordinary strength and the completion of twelve impossible labours as atonement.