Sisyphean
Perpetually doomed effort
Sisyphean describes a task that is endless, futile, and ultimately pointless—like rolling a boulder uphill only to watch it roll back down.
The word comes from Sisyphus, a figure in Greek mythology condemned to repeat this exact punishment for eternity.
The Sisyphean nature of inbox management suggests effort that never yields lasting results.
Large weathered stone
- HadesGreek afterlife realm
- underworldRealm of the departed
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- CamusFrench absurdist author-philosopher
absurdism · Greek · Tartarus · condemned · torment · Zeus · trickster · Corinth
Without termination or boundary
- pointlessLacking any purpose
- fruitlessProducing no useful outcome
- unendingLacking any terminus
- hopelessBeyond possibility of success
meaningless · vain · absurd · thankless · unrewarding · inescapable · unavailing · purposeless
boulder
Large weathered stone
- HadesGreek afterlife realm
- underworldRealm of the departed
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
Camus · absurdism · Greek · Tartarus · condemned · torment · Zeus · trickster · Corinth · curse
endless
Without termination or boundary
hopeless · meaningless · vain · absurd · thankless · unrewarding · inescapable · unavailing · purposeless · useless
toil
Strenuous, prolonged effort
slog · effort · exertion · strain · task · burden · chore · ordeal · hardship · backbreaking
- Greek & RomanAchilles heel, Trojan horse, Pandora's box, Midas touch, Odyssey
- Mythological WordsAchilles heel, Adonis, aegis, ambrosia, Apollo
- futilefutile, useless, pointless, fruitless, vain
- 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
Sisypheanachievable
Able to be accomplished
attainable · accomplishable · completable · fruitful · successful
Sisypheanmeaningful
Having purpose or significance
purposeful · worthwhile · significant · consequential · fulfilling
- Sisyphean taskEndlessly repeated futile labor
- Sisyphean labourEternally repeating pointless task