herculean

[ hur-kyuh-lee-uhn, hur-kyoo-lee-uhn ]

adjective

1. requiring the great strength of a Hercules; very hard to perform:

   Digging the tunnel was a herculean task.

   Synonyms: formidable, onerous, arduous, prodigious

2. having enormous strength, courage, or size.
3. (initial capital letter) of or relating to Hercules or his labors.

herculean

/ ˌhɜːkjʊˈliːən /

adjective

1. requiring tremendous effort, strength, etc

   a herculean task

2. sometimes capital resembling Hercules in strength, courage, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of herculean¹

1590–1600; < Latin Hercule ( us ) of, belonging to Hercules + -an

Example Sentences

The main conclusion is that a startling number of these athletes, who are presumably performing herculean feats in their training, are falling way short of their sleep goals.

From Outside Online

It’s already a herculean task, and allows brains to literally link to a computer.

From Singularity Hub 

So, this was a herculean effort that has gone on all the time trying to do the vaccine studies for coronavirus disease, which we were also incredibly successful in.

From Washington Blade

Although slots are being made available now, it may be too little, too late for such a herculean task.

From Quartz

I mean, once you get a surge start happening, then it takes a herculean effort to turn it around.

From Washington Post

For women with ADHD conforming to these problematic standards is a herculean task.

From The Daily Beast

Those versions of the story present a Herculean drama of man versus nature.

From The Daily Beast

It goes back to the Greeks and the idea of sport as some sort of Herculean sacrifice without personal enrichment.

From The Daily Beast

Now even the scaled-down agreement is proving a herculean task.

From The Daily Beast

Tangling with the ancients in this way takes a certain Herculean arrogance.

From The Daily Beast

She comprehended at a glance his herculean abilities, and the important aid he could render the Republican cause.

From Project Gutenberg

My thoughts had never depicted such a herculean and rude specimen of humanity.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a complete breakdown, pitiful from its contrast with the man's herculean physique and fine, if contracted, features.

From Project Gutenberg

Between these Herculean shoulders rose a neck of which the muscles stood out like cords.

From Project Gutenberg

No boisterous revelry—all seemed to sleep innocent and calm in the moonlight after the day of herculean toil.

From Project Gutenberg