: of, relating to, or characteristic of ancient Sybaris
b
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the people of Sybaris
2
: marked by or given to luxury or voluptuous living
take his rest in sybaritic grandeur that eclipses the splendor of a sultan's harem—Green Peyton
the … basically sybaritic boy became a strong, aggressive, Spartan adult—G. W. Johnson
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The ancient city of Sybaris (near modern Terranova di Sibari), founded by the Greeks on the toe of Italy's "boot", was famous for the wealth and luxury of its citizens in the 6th century B.C. But the Sybarites' wealth made them overconfident, and when they went to war with a nearby city, they were defeated by a much smaller army. After the victory, their enemies diverted the course of the river running through Sybaris so that it destroyed the whole city forever.
Word History
Etymology
Latin Sybariticus, from Greek Sybaritikos, from Sybaritēs + -ikos -ic
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