tartarus

[ˈtɑːrtərəs]

tartarus Definition

(in Greek mythology) the lowest region of the underworld, where the wicked were punished.

Using tartarus: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "tartarus" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The Titans were imprisoned in Tartarus after their defeat by the Olympians.

  • Example

    In Dante's Inferno, Tartarus is depicted as a place of punishment for the sin of heresy.

  • Example

    The mythological figure Sisyphus was condemned to an eternity of rolling a boulder up a hill in Tartarus.

tartarus Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for tartarus

Phrases with tartarus

  • a metaphorical reference to a place of great suffering or torment

    Example

    The thought of being stuck in a dead-end job for the rest of his life filled him with dread, like being thrown into a Tartarus pit.

  • a difficult or impossible problem or situation

    Example

    The company's financial troubles had become a Tartarus knot that no one seemed able to untangle.

  • a psychological condition characterized by feelings of hopelessness and despair

    Example

    After losing his job and going through a messy divorce, he fell into a deep depression and was diagnosed with Tartarus syndrome.

Origins of tartarus

from Greek 'Tartaros', the name of the deepest, darkest pit in the underworld

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Summary: tartarus in Brief

'Tartarus' [ˈtɑːrtərəs] is the lowest region of the underworld in Greek mythology, where the wicked are punished. It is often used metaphorically to describe a place of great suffering or torment, as in 'The thought of being stuck in a dead-end job for the rest of his life filled him with dread, like being thrown into a Tartarus pit.' Other phrases include 'Tartarus knot,' referring to a difficult problem, and 'Tartarus syndrome,' a psychological condition characterized by feelings of hopelessness and despair.