hydra Definition
- 1a many-headed serpent or monster in Greek mythology
- 2a freshwater polyp with a cylindrical body and tentacles around the mouth
Using hydra: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "hydra" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Hercules fought the hydra in one of his twelve labors.
Example
The hydra is a type of cnidarian that can reproduce by budding.
hydra Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with hydra
a problem that seems to have been solved but then creates even more problems
Example
The company thought they had solved their financial issues, but cutting costs only made things worse. It was like cutting off one head of the hydra, two more grew back.
hydra-headed
having many different aspects or branches
Example
The issue of climate change is hydra-headed, involving science, politics, economics, and social justice.
Example
The hydra effect is a common occurrence in environmental policy, where solutions to one issue often create new challenges.
Summary: hydra in Brief
The term 'hydra' [ˈhaɪdrə] refers to a many-headed serpent or monster in Greek mythology, as well as a freshwater polyp with tentacles around the mouth. The phrase 'cut off one head of the hydra, two more will grow back' describes a problem that seems to have been solved but then creates even more problems. 'Hydra-headed' means having many different aspects or branches, while the 'hydra effect' is the phenomenon where solving one problem leads to the creation of new problems.