Definition

Noun: A pyrrhic victory is a success or triumph achieved at such a great cost that it is effectively equivalent to a defeat. The term implies that the losses suffered in winning are so severe that they outweigh or nullify the benefits of the victory itself.

Usage

This term is used to describe situations in conflict, competition, or effort where the winner sustains devastating damage. It is most commonly applied in military, political, business, and personal contexts to critique a win that is not worth its price.

Examples

• The general's army captured the fortress, but with ninety percent casualties; historians now call it a pyrrhic victory.
• Winning the lawsuit cost the company its public reputation and all its savings—a classic pyrrhic victory.
• She got the promotion after a brutal year of undermining her colleagues, but the isolation she feels makes it feel like a pyrrhic victory.

Advanced Usage

The concept can be applied metaphorically beyond literal battles. It can describe any "win" that comes with excessive negative consequences, such as ruined relationships, financial ruin, or moral compromise.

Variants and Related Words

• Pyrrhic (adjective): Describing a victory or success that is achieved at excessive cost.
  • Their win in the market share war was a pyrrhic achievement.

Synonyms

• Hollow victory
• Costly triumph
• Self-defeating victory

Related Idioms

• Winning the battle but losing the war: This idiom conveys a similar idea, where a short-term or tactical success leads to a long-term or strategic failure. A pyrrhic victory is a specific, extreme example of this principle.
  • By firing the experienced staff to cut costs, the manager won the quarterly budget battle but lost the war for product quality.

Noun

1. a victory that is won by incurring terrible losses