hydras
Mythical regenerating monsters
Hydras are the plural of hydra, a genus of small freshwater organisms with tubular bodies and tentacles, notable for their regenerative abilities—cut one apart and each piece regrows into a complete animal.
The name comes from the Hydra of Greek mythology, a many-headed serpent that sprouted two new heads whenever one was severed.
Figuratively, a hydra is any problem that multiplies when attacked: Every regulation they cut spawned two new loopholes—a bureaucratic hydra.
Fixed aquatic invertebrates
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
- tentaclesFlexible grasping appendages
- buddingDeveloping from an outgrowth
- invertebratesAnimals without vertebral columns
nematocysts · tubular · regeneration · asexual · zoology · aquatic · microscopic · predatory
Cunning, limbless reptile
- regeneratingForming anew after loss
- venomousProducing injected toxins
- beastLarge wild animal
- chimeraUnrealistic fantasy or hybrid
Cerberus · Scylla · Gorgon · dragon · legendary · fearsome · unkillable · coiling
Greek demigod, twelve labors
- HerculesLegendary Greek strongman
- GreeceBalkan peninsula nation
- EchidnaMonstrous maternal serpent-woman
- cauterizationBurning tissue medically
swamp · Peloponnese · heroic · ancient · legendary · mythical · oracle · Zeus
Growing back again
- multiplicationProduct-finding operation
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- persistenceContinuing despite difficulty
renewal · sprouting · recurring · unkillable · self-repair · severed · doubling · endless
Impossible to overcome
- complexityState of being complicated
- entrenchedFirmly established, resistant to change
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
- sprawlingSpread irregularly outward
bureaucracy · corruption · multifaceted · overwhelming · intractable · proliferating · systemic · decentralized
polyps
Fixed aquatic invertebrates
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
- tentaclesFlexible grasping appendages
- buddingDeveloping from an outgrowth
invertebrates · nematocysts · tubular · regeneration · asexual · zoology · aquatic · microscopic · predatory · sessile
serpent
Cunning, limbless reptile
- regeneratingForming anew after loss
- venomousProducing injected toxins
- beastLarge wild animal
chimera · Cerberus · Scylla · Gorgon · dragon · legendary · fearsome · unkillable · coiling · fanged
Heracles
Greek demigod, twelve labors
- HerculesLegendary Greek strongman
- GreeceBalkan peninsula nation
- EchidnaMonstrous maternal serpent-woman
cauterization · swamp · Peloponnese · heroic · ancient · legendary · mythical · oracle · Zeus · sanctuary
regrowth
Growing back again
- multiplicationProduct-finding operation
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
persistence · renewal · sprouting · recurring · unkillable · self-repair · severed · doubling · endless · inexhaustible
insurmountable
Impossible to overcome
- complexityState of being complicated
- entrenchedFirmly established, resistant to change
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
sprawling · bureaucracy · corruption · multifaceted · overwhelming · intractable · proliferating · systemic · decentralized · organization
- mythical beingsdragons, dragon, unicorns, unicorn, phoenix
- grotesquesgargoyles, grotesques, demons, chimeras, hybrid creatures
- miniature wargamingdwarves, elves, orcs, goblins, dragons
- tiny invertebratesmites, tardigrades, nematodes, water bears, springtails
hydraslow-hanging fruit
Readily attainable objectives
clean breaks · root causes · silver bullets · quick fixes · Gordian knots
hydrassingle points of failure
Components whose loss collapses everything
hierarchies · kingpins · linchpins · bottlenecks · monopolies
- fire hydrantStreet water outlet
- hydrogen balloonBuoyant craft using lightest element
- hydrogen bombThermonuclear fusion weapon
- hydrogen peroxideOxidizing disinfectant and bleach
- skin hydrationWater in outer tissue
- hydraulic pressFluid-powered compression device
dehydration, hydrant, hydrate, hydra, hydration, hydrogen, hydraulic, anhydrous, hydrology