Charybdis

noun

Cha·​ryb·​dis kə-ˈrib-dəs 

also shə-

or chə-

: a whirlpool off the coast of Sicily personified in Greek mythology as a female monster compare scylla

Did you know?

The Strait of Messina is the narrow passage between the island of Sicily and the "toe" of Italy's "boot". In Greek mythology, two monsters hovered on either side of the strait. Scylla, a female monster with six snake-like heads, each with pointed teeth, barked like a dog from the rocks on the Italian side. Charybdis, on the Sicilian side, caused a whirlpool by swallowing the waters of the sea three times a day. When Odysseus attempted to sail between them, he encountered disaster on both sides. Being caught between Scylla and Charybdis is a lot like being between a rock and a hard place.

Examples of Charybdis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The high peaks present a Scylla and Charybdis problem in winter, when the jet stream intensifies and storms roll in from the Pacific. — Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026

Risk is extremely difficult to quantify, so bringing together expertise in IT, innovation and compliance—and maintaining a strategic vision—can help chart a safe course between Scylla and Charybdis. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025

Between the Scylla of unemployment and the Charybdis of underemployment, two-thirds to three-quarters of the class of 2025 are struggling to launch. — Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025

As Scylla and Charybdis attack their ship, massive water cannons were shot at him and Jeffries to simulate the giant waves amid the brewing storm. — EW.com, 22 July 2025

Now, falling prices and rising costs are the Scylla and Charybdis of the industry, requiring careful steering. — Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025

This incident nudges the crypto community between the Scylla of crime and Charybdis of censorship. — David G.w. Birch, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025

The Charybdis to Elliot’s Scylla were those who opposed the new strategy as one giving up on being green. — Robert G. Eccles, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025

The Charybdis under construction at a Brownsville, Texas, shipyard. — Brian Cheung, NBC News, 30 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing Charybdis

• between Scylla and Charybdis