myrmidon

noun

myr·mi·don ˈmər-mə-ˌdän

-dən

Synonyms of myrmidon next

capitalized : a member of a legendary Thessalian people who accompanied their king Achilles in the Trojan War

: a loyal follower

especially : a subordinate who executes orders unquestioningly or unscrupulously

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Myrmidon and Ants

The Myrmidons, legendary inhabitants of Thessaly in Greece, were known for their fierce devotion to Achilles, the king who led them in the Trojan War. Myrmex means "ant" in Greek, an image that evokes small and insignificant workers mindlessly fulfilling their duties. Whether the original Myrmidons were given their name for that reason is open to question. The "ant" association is strong, however. Some say the name is from a legendary ancestor who once had the form of an ant; others say the Myrmidons were actually transformed from ants. In any case, since the 1400s, we've employed myrmidon in its not-always-complimentary, ant-evoking, figurative sense.

Examples of myrmidon in a Sentence

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The message from the leftist Democrats and their odious myrmidons in the media, Hollywood, academia, Big Tech, et al is thus: Agree with our narrative or be destroyed. —