A “Pyrrhic victory” refers to a win that comes at such a great cost to the victor that it is almost equivalent to losing. The term originates from King Pyrrhus of Epirus, who won a battle against the Romans in 279 BC during the Pyrrhic War. Although his army was victorious, it suffered irreplaceable losses, which made the win more detrimental than beneficial. Over time, the term came to represent any victory that comes with overwhelming costs, rendering the achievement hollow or unsustainable. In Indonesian, this can be expressed as “kemenangan yang sia-sia” or “kemenangan dengan harga yang sangat mahal”, indicating a costly or futile victory.
Synonyms:
- Hollow victory
- Costly win
- Pyrrhic defeat
- Bitter victory
- Futile success
- Empty triumph
- Pricey victory
- Short-lived success
- Win at all costs
- Self-defeating victory
Example Sentences:
- After losing half of his team, the general realized it was a Pyrrhic victory despite winning the battle.
- Winning the argument felt like a Pyrrhic victory, as it damaged my relationship with my friend.
- Their financial success came at a Pyrrhic victory; they had to sacrifice their personal time and health to achieve it.
- Although the company emerged victorious in the lawsuit, the legal fees and public backlash made it a Pyrrhic victory.
- The team won the championship, but losing their star player was a Pyrrhic victory they couldn’t ignore.
- His relentless pursuit of perfection became a Pyrrhic victory, as it cost him his happiness.
- The political leader’s Pyrrhic victory in the election left him deeply divided and unable to govern effectively.
- The victory felt empty after realizing the damage it had caused to the team’s morale—a true Pyrrhic victory.
- They defeated their competitors, but the cost in resources and reputation made it a Pyrrhic victory.
- Winning the lawsuit was a Pyrrhic victory for the company, as it resulted in a massive public relations nightmare.
Related Words:
- Loss
- Sacrifice
- Consequence
- Damage
- Overwhelming cost
- Exhaustion
- Regret
- Defeat
- Burnout
- Overreach
Related Phrasal Verbs:
- Win at all costs (achieve victory, regardless of the price)
- Pay the price (suffer consequences for one’s actions)
- Come at a cost (result in a significant sacrifice or loss)
- Lose out (suffer a loss, even in victory)
- Take a toll (have a lasting negative effect)
- Give up the ghost (suffer a loss after a struggle)
- Bear the brunt (suffer the majority of the consequences)
- Push too far (overextend oneself, leading to negative consequences)
- Take a hit (experience a loss or damage, even after a win)
- Wear oneself thin (exhaust oneself to the point of diminishing returns)
Idiomatic Expressions:
- A hollow victory (winning but at great expense, with little satisfaction)
- Bite off more than you can chew (take on more than can be handled, often leading to negative consequences)
- Win the battle but lose the war (achieve short-term success but ultimately fail in the long run)
- Out of the frying pan and into the fire (going from one difficult situation to another, often worse one)
- Cut off your nose to spite your face (taking an action that harms yourself even though you might be attempting to harm someone else)
- Victory at a price (success that results in significant sacrifice)
- The cost of victory (the price that must be paid to achieve success)
- A Pyrrhic defeat (a loss so costly that it feels like a victory)
- The end doesn’t justify the means (suggesting that the outcome does not justify the harm caused to achieve it)
- You can’t win them all (sometimes success comes at too high a price)
- Cut your losses (stop pursuing a course of action that has already become too costly)
A Pyrrhic victory is a cautionary reminder that not all victories are worth the price, especially when the costs outweigh the benefits. It highlights the danger of pursuing success without fully considering the long-term consequences.