Sisyphus

[ sis-uh-fuhs ]

noun

, Classical Mythology.

1. a son of Aeolus and ruler of Corinth, noted for his trickery: he was punished in Tartarus by being compelled to roll a stone to the top of a slope, the stone always escaping him near the top and rolling down again.

Sisyphus

/ ˈsɪsɪfəs /

noun

1. Greek myth a king of Corinth, punished in Hades for his misdeeds by eternally having to roll a heavy stone up a hill: every time he approached the top, the stone escaped his grasp and rolled to the bottom

Sisyphus

1. A king in classical mythology who offended Zeus and was punished in Hades by being forced to roll an enormous boulder to the top of a steep hill. Every time the boulder neared the top, it would roll back down, and Sisyphus would have to start over.

Notes

A difficult and futile endeavor may be called a “labor of Sisyphus” or a “Sisyphean task.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sisyphus¹

From Latin Sisyphus, from Greek Sísyphos; probably of pre-Greek origin

Example Sentences

Kishore said climate change is making his job tougher, yet he said doesn’t feel like Sisyphus, the mythical man pushing a giant boulder up a hill.

From Seattle Times

Each is aggrieved but indomitable, a working-class Sisyphus pushing ahead through institutional neglect and cowardice — a very squeaky wheel at work — while weighed down by personal trauma.

From New York Times

The team found that pairs of Sisyphus beetles cooperate in the transportation of brood balls, resulting in greater transport efficiency in the face of obstacles.

From Science Daily

“I did not imagine the wave of tears that came, because … like Sisyphus being able to put down a 200-pound rock, I wasn’t even aware of how much pressure I was under.”

From Reuters

Now that my car has been towed, I feel more like Sisyphus, punished for eternity never to get that boulder over the hill.

From Los Angeles Times