Augean

adjective

Au·​ge·​an ȯ-ˈjē-ən 

: extremely formidable or difficult and occasionally distasteful

an Augean task

Synonyms

• arduous
• backbreaking
• challenging
• demanding
• difficult
• effortful
• exacting
• formidable
• grueling
• gruelling
• hard
• heavy
• hellacious
• herculean
• killer
• laborious
• moiling
• murderous
• pick-and-shovel
• rigorous
• rough
• rugged
• severe
• stiff
• strenuous
• sweaty
• tall
• testing
• toilsome
• tough
• uphill

Examples of Augean in a Sentence

dreaded the Augean task of cleaning the bathroom after an overflow of the toilet

Recent Examples on the Web

Obasanjo’s return to power as a civilian leader was supposed to be an economic and political reset, a cleaning of the Augean stables. —Uzodinma Iweala, Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2022

Word History

Etymology

Latin Augeas, king of Elis, from Greek Augeias; from the legend that his stable, left neglected for 30 years, was finally cleaned by Hercules

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing Augean

• Augean stable