Telemachus

noun

Te·​lem·​a·​chus tə-ˈle-mə-kəs How to pronounce Telemachus (audio)
: the son of Odysseus and Penelope who contrives with his father to slay his mother's suitors

Examples of Telemachus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Telemachus doesn’t address Odysseus by the intimate word for father. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 23 June 2026 Homeless, his body torn, Odysseus needs to get back to her and Telemachus, his anxious son, and to clean up the mess. — David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026 Tom Holland is their son Telemachus and, in ideal casting, Zendaya is the goddess Athena. — Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 24 May 2026 He's joined by Anne Hathaway as Odysseus' wife, Penelope, and Tom Holland as his son, Telemachus. — Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for Telemachus

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Tēlemachos

First Known Use

circa 1556, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Telemachus was circa 1556

Rhymes for Telemachus

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Browse Nearby Words

telelens
Telemachus
teleman
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Cite this Entry

“Telemachus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Telemachus. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on Telemachus

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Telemachus

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