Sisyphean
pronunciation
How to pronounce Sisyphean in British English:
UK [ˌsɪsɪˈfi:ən]
How to pronounce Sisyphean in American English:
US [ˌsɪsəˈfiən]
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- Adjective:
- of or relating to Sisyphus
- both extremely effortful and futile
Word Origin
- Sisyphean (adj.)
- "pertaining to or resembling the unceasingly recurring and fruitless labors of Sisyphus," 1630s, from Sisyphus + -an. Earlier Sisyphian (1590s).
Example
- 1. What they do is a sisyphean task .
- 2. It has been a sisyphean journey .
- 3. Yet the task of quashing rumours is a sisyphean one .
- 4. A sisyphean task perhaps-but worth a go all the same .
- 5. It is a sisyphean mission , and a dangerous one : the system encourages security officers to abduct and punish the petitioners .