1
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
the herculean task of grading 60 student essays over one weekend
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in enormous
unusually large
a herculean banquet table that took eight men to lift it
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Recent Examples of herculean
Something as simple as trying to eat a burger became a herculean ordeal.
—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
Despite the herculean efforts of Nowell, original members Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson, and producer Jon Joseph, listening to Until the Sun Explodes feels like scraping up the resin left behind by OG Sublime in the hopes of getting high.
—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
15 June 2026
Despite his herculean postseason, a succession plan will be needed at some point.
—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
12 June 2026
Now, local officials in multiple states have begun the herculean work of changing the names of locations and holidays, as well as contemplating the fate of monuments and murals that honor Chavez.
—
Daniella Silva,
NBC news,
19 Mar. 2026
The local architect Rob Michel, an expert in midcentury preservation, would in turn oversee the project, which grew into a herculean logistical challenge requiring the coordination of some 100 specialists.
—
Felix Wagner,
Architectural Digest,
27 Feb. 2026
For Paramount, the road ahead will be paved with key management and strategic decisions, as well as a herculean effort to revitalize two media giants that have often struggled to navigate the streaming era.
—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
But both face a herculean task in catching him, given Malinin’s huge technical advantage over a longer program.
—
Dave Skretta,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
While finding a new species in plain sight might seem simple, catching the birds – a relatively common sight in the Galapagos – proved a herculean task.
—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
18 Jan. 2026
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
Despite the herculean efforts of Nowell, original members Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson, and producer Jon Joseph, listening to Until the Sun Explodes feels like scraping up the resin left behind by OG Sublime in the hopes of getting high.
—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
15 June 2026
Despite his herculean postseason, a succession plan will be needed at some point.
—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
12 June 2026
Now, local officials in multiple states have begun the herculean work of changing the names of locations and holidays, as well as contemplating the fate of monuments and murals that honor Chavez.
—
Daniella Silva,
NBC news,
19 Mar. 2026
The local architect Rob Michel, an expert in midcentury preservation, would in turn oversee the project, which grew into a herculean logistical challenge requiring the coordination of some 100 specialists.
—
Felix Wagner,
Architectural Digest,
27 Feb. 2026
For Paramount, the road ahead will be paved with key management and strategic decisions, as well as a herculean effort to revitalize two media giants that have often struggled to navigate the streaming era.
—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
But both face a herculean task in catching him, given Malinin’s huge technical advantage over a longer program.
—
Dave Skretta,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
While finding a new species in plain sight might seem simple, catching the birds – a relatively common sight in the Galapagos – proved a herculean task.
—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
18 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for herculean
Adjective
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Sarah Buck, Chicago Driving has become harder The rapid increase in bike lanes has made driving much more difficult and tedious, with numerous delays due to many streets being reduced to one lane in busy areas.
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Republican strategists have welcomed those nominations as an opening for attack in a difficult election year.
Adjective
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Hagan Community Park in Rancho Cordova transformed from a serene hangout spot into an enormous fun-fest fit for a nation’s 250th birthday on Friday.
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Over time, these little communication shifts can create enormous changes in your home.
Adjective
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This enduring legacy, underscores the lawyer's role as an officer of the court, preserving the rule of law even when challenging authority.
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Educate your family on our country’s history, both good and challenging.
Adjective
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Authors think humans might just be able to leverage a few tools at our disposal to change the course of huge weather events.
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Technology companies are spending big to incorporate artificial intelligence into their businesses and to build huge data centers.
Adjective
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MacDonald agrees that some of Kiros' positions could put Democratic candidates in a tough spot.
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The 34 measures include cuts to income tax for low- and middle income families, an overhaul of the creaking pension system, tougher rules for employees' sick leave and a reduction of the country's stifling bureaucracy.
Adjective
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After soaring to tremendous heights and leading the market for years, AI stocks have been under pressure recently because of worries their profits can’t possibly keep pace with the tremendous rallies for their stock prices.
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Seismic events release tremendous amounts of seismic energy.
Adjective
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The Scottish lawyer was one of the smartest, most formidable specialists in the luxury business, with a reputation that carried internationally and a vast roll call of clients.
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With five volumes of his Noise Kandy series, to solo and collaborative albums (KISS THE RING, Kontraband, Trainspotting), the Griselda affiliate has cemented his status as one of today’s most formidable spitters.
Adjective
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But a loss, coming after such an absurd, farcical process, and removing the possibility of a gigantic matchup against Spain or Portugal in the quarterfinals in Los Angeles, would be unforgivable.
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The gigantic star cluster inside the nebula NGC 3603 (about 20,000 light-years away) shines in a second image.
Cite this Entry
“Herculean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/herculean. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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