Pyrrhic victory

After Greek king Pyrrhus of Epirus, who suffered heavy losses while defeating the Romans.

• IPA^(key): /ˌpɪɹ.ɪk ˈvɪk.t(ə)ɹ.i/

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Pyrrhic victory (plural Pyrrhic victories)

1. A very costly victory, wherein the considerable losses outweigh the gain, so as to render the struggle not worth the cost.

   Synonym: (proscribed) hollow victory

   • 2005 October 6, The Guardian‎^[1]:

     Tough pensions regulation designed to protect employees in final-salary occupational schemes will prove a pyrrhic victory for unions and the government, a report warned yesterday.

   • 2002 November 21, Amos Elon, “Israelis & Palestinians: What Went Wrong?”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)‎^[2]:

     We now know that it [the Six-Day War] was a Pyrrhic victory.

• Cadmean victory
• monkey's paw