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Synonyms

Cerberus

American  
[sur-ber-uhs] / ˈsɜr bər əs /

noun

plural

Cerberuses, Cerberi
  1. Classical Mythology. Also Kerberos a dog, usually represented as having three heads, that guarded the entrance of the infernal regions.

  2. a formidable and often surly keeper or guard.


Cerberus British  
/ ˈsɜːbərəs, səˈbɪərɪən /

noun

  1. Greek myth a dog, usually represented as having three heads, that guarded the entrance to Hades

  2. a bribe or something given to propitiate a potential source of danger or problems

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cerberus Cultural  
  1. In classical mythology, the three-headed dog who guarded the entrance to Hades.


Other Word Forms

  • Cerberean adjective
  • Cerberic adjective

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Amir Salek, senior managing director at Cerberus Capital Management, said he was convinced PrismML achieved a major mathematical breakthrough with the potential to improve the economics of AI.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

In 2021 GradImages was bought again and placed under the collegiate souvenir clearinghouse Balfour, with a new majority equity holder, New York–based PE giant Cerberus Capital Management.

From Slate • May 27, 2025

Stephen Feinberg, co-CEO of private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management and worth $8 billion, has reportedly been offered the position of deputy defense secretary.

From Salon • Dec. 17, 2024

The biggest shareholder was the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, which owns more than 26% of the shares and has four nominees on the company’s board of directors.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 13, 2024

She held up the tattered red ball, and probably came to the same conclusion I did—if she rewarded Cerberus, there’d be nothing left for another trick.

From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan