WordValePyrrhic victory
a win that costs so much it is almost a defeat
In more detail
a victory that costs so much that it is not worth winning; a win that involves such great losses that it is almost as bad as a defeat
Examples
- Winning the court case was a pyrrhic victory because she spent so much money on lawyers that she couldn't afford to enjoy the money she won.
How to use Pyrrhic victory
A Pyrrhic victory describes a situation where someone technically succeeds but pays such a high price that the victory becomes meaningless or counterproductive. It is commonly used in political, military, legal, and business contexts to critique victories that damaged the victor more than benefited them. The term carries disapproval and suggests that while winning occurred, it was ultimately not worth the cost.
Common phrases
- achieve a Pyrrhic victory
- win a Pyrrhic victory
- at best a Pyrrhic victory
- prove to be Pyrrhic
- Pyrrhic victory in the courts
Synonyms
hollow victory · costly win · empty victory · moral defeat · losing victory
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use this phrase to mean simply a narrow victory or a close win, when it specifically requires the element of excessive cost or damage to the victor.
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