Herculean
Requiring immense strength
Herculean means requiring enormous strength or effort: a Herculean task, a Herculean feat of endurance.
The word derives from Hercules, the hero of Greek mythology famed for completing twelve impossible labors.
Something Herculean suggests not just difficulty but the kind of challenge that would test even legendary strength. (Lowercase herculean is equally common and identical in meaning.)
Demanding strenuous effort
- gruelingExtremely tiring and demanding
- strenuousRequiring intense exertion
- demandingRequiring great effort
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
daunting · monumental · overwhelming · insurmountable · backbreaking · punishing · exhausting · taxing
Having great strength
- mightyHaving great power
- muscularHaving well-developed sinews
- brawnyPhysically powerful, well-muscled
- robustStrong and durable
sturdy · vigorous · strapping · athletic · burly · hulking · stalwart · forceful
Strenuous physical efforts
- demigodPartly divine being
- ZeusGreek sky god
- HydraMulti-headed mythical serpent
- CerberusMythical watchdog of death's realm
Cretan · Atlas · Argonauts · Olympus · Greek · mythology · Hera · Hippolyta
Courageously determined
- courageousShowing bravery under threat
- braveShowing courage despite fear
- gallantCourageously attentive and refined
- nobleTitled or virtuous
fearless · intrepid · dauntless · bold · legendary · epic · triumphant · victorious
arduous
Demanding strenuous effort
- gruelingExtremely tiring and demanding
- strenuousRequiring intense exertion
- demandingRequiring great effort
formidable · daunting · monumental · overwhelming · insurmountable · backbreaking · punishing · exhausting · taxing · onerous
powerful
Having great strength
robust · sturdy · vigorous · strapping · athletic · burly · hulking · stalwart · forceful · potent
labors
Strenuous physical efforts
Cerberus · Cretan · Atlas · Argonauts · Olympus · Greek · mythology · Hera · Hippolyta · Thebes
valiant
Courageously determined
- courageousShowing bravery under threat
- braveShowing courage despite fear
- gallantCourageously attentive and refined
noble · fearless · intrepid · dauntless · bold · legendary · epic · triumphant · victorious · glorified
labor
Strenuous effort; also childbirth
- toilStrenuous, prolonged effort
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- exertionVigorous physical effort
endeavor · undertaking · task · challenge · ordeal · feat · trial · work · enterprise · drudgery
- Mythological WordsAchilles heel, Adonis, aegis, ambrosia, Apollo
- AllusionsAchilles heel, Pandora's box, Trojan horse, forbidden fruit, Midas touch
- classical literature referencesOdyssey, Iliad, odyssey, epic, muse
- Historical AllusionsTrojan horse, Achilles heel, Pyrrhic victory, crossing the Rubicon, Pandora's box
- EponymsDarwinian, Alzheimer's disease, Freudian slip, cardigan, Parkinson's disease
Herculeaneffortless
Requiring no strain
easy · trivial · simple · undemanding · light
Herculeanminuscule
Extremely small in size
tiny · insignificant · negligible · small-scale · modest
- herculean taskExtremely difficult undertaking
- Pillars of HerculesTwin promontories at strait