sisyphus

Thân thiện

Sisyphus pushes the boulder up the steep hill.

Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A figure from Greek mythology: Sisyphus is a king from ancient Greek legend who was punished by the god Zeus. His eternal punishment was to repeatedly roll a large, heavy boulder up a steep hill, only for it to roll back down each time it neared the top, forcing him to start the task over again for eternity.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The myth of Sisyphus is often used as a metaphor for futile and endless labor.
  • In the story, Sisyphus was condemned by Zeus to his famous punishment.

Advanced Usage

• "Sisyphean" (adjective): Describing a task that is endless, futile, and repetitive, much like the punishment of Sisyphus.
  • Cleaning the house with toddlers feels like a Sisyphean task.
• "A modern Sisyphus": A phrase used to describe a person engaged in a seemingly pointless and never-ending struggle.
  • The data entry clerk felt like a modern Sisyphus, facing an infinite stack of forms.

Variants and Related Words

• Sisyphean (adj): Of or relating to Sisyphus; resembling his punishment in being endless and futile.

Synonyms

• No direct synonyms as a proper noun. For the concept of his punishment: endless toil, futile labor, eternal struggle.

Related Idioms and Concepts

• "A Sisyphean task/labor": An idiom directly derived from the myth, meaning a task that is impossibly difficult and never-ending.
  • Trying to eliminate all spam email is a Sisyphean labor.
• "The myth of Sisyphus": Often referenced in philosophy and literature to discuss themes of absurdity, punishment, and the human condition.

Học thuật

Noun

1. (Greek legend) a king in ancient Greece who offended Zeus and whose punishment was to roll a huge boulder to the top of a steep hill; each time the boulder neared the top it rolled back down and Sisyphus was forced to start again

Từ đồng nghĩa

• sisyphus