pyrrhic

adj

1. (not-comparable)Of or characterized by pyrrhics (metrical feet with two short syllables).
2. (not-comparable)Relating to Pyrrhus, a Macedonian king, or some of his costly victories he had while fighting Rome.
3. (alt-of, not-comparable)Alternative letter-case form of Pyrrhic (“achieved at too great a cost”).

   “Huwawa is slain; the victors triumph, but the victory is to be a pyrrhic one for Gilgamesh, for the gods have met in counsel and decreed that Enkidu should die.”

   “In the ministry, it is important to avoid pyrrhic victories. What really is a pyrrhic victory? A pyrrhic victory is a victory that comes with such devastating cost that ultimately nullifies the victory that has been achieved.”

   “As victories go, it look^([sic]) distinctly pyrrhic – shades of Nixon and North Vietnam in 1972.”

4. (not-comparable)Of or relating to Pyrrhus (319/318–272 BCE), Greek general and statesman.

   “The Pyrrhic army lost the Pyrrhic war.”

5. (broadly)Achieved at too great a cost or detriment to have been worthwhile (as a victory, accomplishment, etc).

   “Although this syndrome is thought to resemble patterns of Pyrrhic revenge […]”

   “I feared a Pyrrhic victory: I had been vindicated intellectually, but I was afraid of being too right and seeing the system crumble under my feet.”

noun

1. An Ancient Greek war dance.
2. A metric foot with two short or unaccented syllables.