# Hercules

/ˈhɝkjəˌɫiz/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hercules
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. mythological hero

noun · CEFR B2

a hero from Roman and Greek myths who was famous for being incredibly strong and completing twelve difficult tasks.

For teachers: the Roman name for the Greek hero Heracles, renowned for his superhuman strength and the performance of the twelve labours.

- In the old stories, Hercules was strong enough to hold up the entire sky.
- The myth of Hercules served as a classical archetype for physical prowess and the redemptive power of endurance through suffering.

### 3. a very strong man

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a man who is exceptionally strong or has a very powerful body.

For teachers: an antonomastic use referring to any man possessing great physical strength or a powerful build.

- The weightlifter was a real Hercules, lifting the heavy bar with no effort at all.
- The foreman was a veritable Hercules, capable of moving timber that usually required a team of three men to shift.

## Examples

- He felt like a Hercules after lifting the heavy sofa alone.
- The young athlete was a modern Hercules, breaking three school records in a single afternoon.
- To clean up the corruption in the city's administration, the new mayor would need to be a political Hercules capable of moving mountains of bureaucracy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.