Sisyphus

noun

Sis·​y·​phus ˈsi-sə-fəs How to pronounce Sisyphus (audio)
: a legendary king of Corinth condemned eternally to repeatedly roll a heavy rock up a hill in Hades only to have it roll down again as it nears the top

Examples of Sisyphus 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.
Oh, there’s more than a bit of Sisyphus rolling the rock uphill here. — Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026 The research and drug discovery had been like Sisyphus, back and forth and back and forth. — Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026 To a universe that stays silent in response to our best designs, Sisyphus gives the middle finger. — B. R. Cohen, Longreads, 13 Jan. 2026 Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus. — Erika Landström, Artforum, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for Sisyphus

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Sisyphos

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Sisyphus was in the 14th century

Rhymes for Sisyphus

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Browse Nearby Words

Sisyphean
Sisyphus
Sisyridae
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Cite this Entry

“Sisyphus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Sisyphus. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on Sisyphus

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Sisyphus

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