“Pyrrhic Victory” Meaning, Origin and Examples

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You may have heard the term Pyrrhic victory being used in an English conversation and you may have wondered what the saying means. We are going to look at the meaning of this term as well as taking a look at some examples of its use in a conversation. We will also find out the origin of the phrase and where it originally came from.

“Pyrrhic Victory” Meaning, Origin and Usage

Key Takeaways

  • A “Pyrrhic victory” refers to a victory that comes at such a significant cost to the victor that it is almost tantamount to defeat. The expression is often used to describe situations where the toll of winning outweighs the benefits gained from the victory.
Pyrrhic Victory
Pyrrhic Victory – Created by 7ESL

“Pyrrhic Victory” Meaning

A “Pyrrhic victory” refers to a win that comes at such a significant cost to the victor that it is almost tantamount to defeat. The term suggests that the toll taken (whether in terms of resources, loss of life, or effort) outweighs the benefits gained from the victory.

Examples:

  • “Winning the lawsuit was a Pyrrhic victory for the company, as the legal fees were astronomical.”
  • “While they managed to win the election, the division within the party left them with a Pyrrhic victory.”

Origin of This Idiom

The term is derived from King Pyrrhus of Epirus, who defeated the Romans at Heraclea in 280 BC and Asculum in 279 BC during the Pyrrhic War. Although he won these battles, his army suffered devastating losses, leading him to famously remark that another such victory would ruin him.

Usage of “Pyrrhic Victory”

  • In a discussion about a business decision:

“After spending millions on a marketing campaign that only slightly boosted sales, the CEO realized they had achieved a Pyrrhic victory.”

  • Talking about a sports match:

“The team won the championship, but the injuries they sustained during the playoffs made it feel like a Pyrrhic victory.”

  • During a conversation about personal conflicts:

“Winning the argument left her feeling isolated from her friends, which turned the confrontation into a Pyrrhic victory.”

  • In a historical context:

“Many historians describe the Battle of Bunker Hill as a Pyrrhic victory for the British, as they suffered heavy losses despite claiming the battlefield.”

Related Terms to “Pyrrhic Victory”

  • Hollow victory – a win that lacks substance or real value due to the costs incurred.
  • Bittersweet victory – a success that brings both happiness and sorrow, often due to sacrifices made.
  • Empty triumph – a victory that feels unfulfilling or without merit because of the associated losses.
  • Costly victory – a win that requires significant sacrifices or resources, questioning the worth of the achievement.
  • Victory at a price – a phrase emphasizing that success comes with significant costs.
  • Suffering losses – indicating that despite winning, the costs involved are substantial.
  • Trade-off – a situation where one thing is given up in order to gain something else, often used in the context of weighing costs and benefits.
  • No-win situation – a scenario where no outcome is advantageous, often leading to loss regardless of the choice made.
  • Poisoned victory – a success that has negative consequences, making the win undesirable.
  • Defeating success – a win that ultimately leads to unfavorable consequences, negating its benefits.

Other Ways to Say the Idiom

There are other ways in which you can say the phrase Pyrrhic victory, here are some examples of this.

  • Hollow victory
  • A victory gained at too large a cost
  • Cadmean victory
  • Too costly victory
  • Goal achieved at too great a cost

“Pyrrhic Victory” Examples

Examples in Statements

There might be many different times that you hear the term Pyrrhic victory, so we are now going to look at some examples of these.

The first statement is being made by a sports commentator.

  • It was a bit of a Pyrrhic victory for Manchester United, as several of their players were seriously injured in the match.

The second statement is being made in a new report.

  • The war was won but the victors were left devastated with their Pyrrhic victory after losing thousands of men.

Conversation Examples

If you are curious to see how the term Pyrrhic victory can work in a conversation, here are some examples to demonstrate this.

The first conversation is between two friends discussing history.

  • Person 1: “The Jewish people definitely ended up triumphing in world war two.”
  • Person 2: “They did, but they suffered such great losses during the war.”
  • Person 1: “I agree it was a very Pyrrhic victory.”

The second conversation is happening between two teachers at a school.

  • Person 1: “I am teaching my students about graciously winning.”
  • Person 2: “They weren’t too gracious when they won the baseball tournament.”
  • Person 1: “They were surprised to have won, it was a Pyrrhic victory after the best player had died before the game.”

More helpful examples:

  • This was indeed a Pyrrhic victory because West Indies cricket was assuredly the loser.
  • Our winning the opening game was a Pyrrhic victory, as our leading scorer was seriously injured.
  • She won the court case, but it was a Pyrrhic victory because she had to pay so much in legal fees.
  • My only regret is that he didn’t turn up at court to watch his Pyrrhic victory.
  • I raised a stink about it and got my seat back, but it was a Pyrrhic victory.
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