Augean

Au·ge·an

adj \ȯ-ˈjē-ən\

Definition of AUGEAN

: extremely formidable or difficult and occasionally distasteful <an Augean task>

Examples of AUGEAN

1. <dreaded the Augean task of cleaning the bathroom after an overflow of the toilet>

Origin of AUGEAN

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: 1599

Related to AUGEAN

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

Antonyms: cheap, easy, effortless, facile, light, mindless, simple, soft, undemanding

Related Words: abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, elusive, hairy, insoluble, intricate, involved, knotty, opaque, problematic (also problematical), recondite, serious, spiny, stubborn, thorny, ticklish, tricky; bruising, burdensome, exhausting, labored, onerous, oppressive, stressful, taxing, tight, trying; annoying, bothersome, distressing, irksome, troublesome, vexatious; grievous, grim, strict, stringent; brutal, cruel, inhuman, painful

Near Antonyms: achievable, clear, doable, elementary, manageable, uncomplicated; comforting, gentle, painless, relaxed, smooth, soothing; accessible, friendly, idiotproof, user-friendly

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Rhymes with AUGEAN

Achaean, Actaeon, Aegean, Antaean, Archean, Chaldean, Chilean, Crimean, Cumaean, Fijian, Judaean, Korean, Kuchean, Linnaean, Mandaean, Matthean, Nicaean, plebeian, pygmaean, Tupian