herculean means of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.; suggesting Hercules in size or strength.
herculean is pronounced /hɜːɹˈkjuːliən/.
Why “herculean” is a great word
Requiring or displaying extraordinary strength, effort, or difficulty to accomplish, from the Latin *Herculeus* (pertaining to Hercules, the mythological hero famed for his strength), combined with the English suffix *-an*. Unlike "arduous," which emphasizes prolonged, strenuous toil, or "strenuous," which suggests vigorous but ordinary exertion, *herculean* implies a mythic scale, a task calibrated not for mortals but for legends. It is the feel of cold marble under the palms as one cleans the Augean stables, the weight of the celestial sphere upon aching shoulders, and the sheer endurance needed to face a hydra where two new problems sprout for each one solved—the quiet recognition that some burdens are measured not in pounds, but in eternities.
adj
- Of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.; suggesting Hercules in size or strength.e.g.“But this is not the best:—look, pr'ythee, Charmian, / How this Herculean Roman does become / The carriage of his chafe.”
- Requiring a huge amount of work; of extraordinary difficulty.e.g.“a Herculean labour”
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.