cadmean victory
Low (C2)Formal, Literary
Definition
Meaning
A victory achieved at such a high cost that it is effectively a defeat.
A success or win so costly in terms of resources, effort, or casualties that it negates the benefits of winning, making it pyrrhic; named after the mythological story of Cadmus, who sowed dragon's teeth that sprouted into warriors who then fought and killed each other.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is synonymous with 'Pyrrhic victory' but originates from a different mythological source (Greek: Cadmus vs. Pyrrhus). It is a classical allusion primarily used in analytical, historical, or literary contexts to describe strategically disastrous wins.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. 'Pyrrhic victory' is more common in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries the same connotation of a ruinous win. Slightly more erudite and less common than 'Pyrrhic victory'.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday speech in both regions. More likely found in historical analysis, military theory, or classical studies.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] achieved/resulted in a cadmean victory (by/at [cost]).It was a cadmean victory for [entity].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Win the battle but lose the war.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might describe a company winning a lawsuit or a bidding war at a cost that cripples its finances.
Academic
Used in history, political science, military strategy, and classical literature essays.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in military theory and historical analysis of conflicts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The general's cadmean strategy secured the hill at the cost of his entire army.
- The campaign ended in a cadmean triumph for the ruling party.
American English
- The CEO's cadmean tactics won the market share but bankrupted the company.
- They celebrated a cadmean success after the legal battle.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The historian described the battle as a cadmean victory, where the defending army was destroyed even as it held the field.
- The corporation's aggressive takeover bid was a cadmean victory; they acquired the rival firm but were left with unsustainable debt and a crippled workforce.
- In securing the nomination through such brutal internal party warfare, the candidate feared she had achieved only a cadmean victory for her campaign.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CADmus sowing dragon's teeth: his 'victory' in creating warriors led to them killing each other – a win that destroys the winner. CADmean = CADmus + MEAN (as in, it was a mean/nasty kind of victory).
Conceptual Metaphor
VICTORY IS A COMMODITY / VICTORY IS A CONTAINER. The metaphor highlights that the 'commodity' of victory can have a negative net value, or the 'container' of victory can be filled with loss.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation or calquing. The concept is best translated as 'Пиррова победа' (Pyrrhic victory), as 'кадмова победа' is not a standard Russian phrase and would be incomprehensible to most.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe any difficult victory. The cost must be so high it outweighs the gain. / Confusing it with a 'hollow victory', which may lack satisfaction but not necessarily involve crippling loss. / Misspelling as 'cadmium victory' (confusion with the chemical element).
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining characteristic of a cadmean victory?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no practical difference in meaning. Both describe a victory that ruins the victor. 'Cadmean' comes from the Greek myth of Cadmus, while 'Pyrrhic' comes from King Pyrrhus of Epirus. 'Pyrrhic victory' is far more common in modern usage.
It is highly unlikely and would sound very formal or pretentious. In everyday contexts, phrases like 'winning at all costs' or 'a hollow victory' are more natural, though less precise.
It is very rare and stylistically marked. It is almost exclusively paired with 'victory'. Using it elsewhere (e.g., 'cadmean success', 'cadmean outcome') would be understood by an educated audience but is not standard.
In British English, it's /kædˈmiːən/ (cad-MEE-an). In American English, it's /kædˈmiən/ (cad-MEE-uhn). The stress is on the second syllable.