Augean

adjective

ȯ-ˈjē-ən How to pronounce Augean (audio)
Definition of Augeannext
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort dreaded the Augean task of cleaning the bathroom after an overflow of the toilet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of Augean Removing Spurs’ mental block is like cleaning the Augean stables. — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026 Obasanjo’s return to power as a civilian leader was supposed to be an economic and political reset, a cleaning of the Augean stables. — Uzodinma Iweala, Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Augean
  1. difficult
  2. challenging
  3. rigorous
  4. demanding
  5. formidable
  6. tough
  7. toilsome
Adjective
  • The problem, Snegovaya said, is that achieving military autonomy for Europe and Ukraine is extremely difficult in the short term, and Europe has been slow to develop the necessary capabilities.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Past changes have pushed the glacier into a retreat that may be difficult to reverse, while new modeling suggests scientists may have underestimated how warm seawater reaches beneath it.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • As Hispanic Heritage Month continues, one musician at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music is challenging expectations about classical music and the harp.
    — Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Naomi Ackie, who plays the scientist charged with Hagen’s experimental procedure, praised how her co-star shouldered what was a very challenging role.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of challenging
Adjective
  • Finally, Horrigan noted that inbound freight deserves the same rigorous management as outbound, stressing that procurement teams need visibility into the freight component of supplier pricing.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The whole piece is about the free and rigorous interplay of line.
    — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of rigorous
Adjective
  • The companies position shorter charging stops as a way to support longer operating windows and more demanding task sequences.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • But these are just basic text prompts and mildly demanding tasks.
    — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of demanding
Adjective
  • But the expansion of Bioko's strategy presents formidable challenges, from porous international borders to the sheer scale of the territory.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Although a small number of peptide medicines are already available as pills, most candidates still face formidable barriers to oral delivery.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of formidable
Adjective
  • The case has led to calls for tougher oversight of churches and other religious organizations in a country where religious faith plays a prominent role in public life.
    — Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Thermal equilibrium might sound like a tough concept, but hundreds of systems reach them around us on a daily basis.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, Republicans lacked the votes to pass anything so their amendments tended to be trollish and toilsome fliers meant to either own the libs or just annoy the legislators.
    — Matt Ford, The New Republic, 9 Aug. 2022
  • Though the third quarter was significantly better for Netflix than its previous quarter, the company signaled that there could be toilsome times ahead.
    — Natalie Jarvey, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Oct. 2019
Definition of toilsome

Phrases Containing Augean

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audits
Augean
Augean stable
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Cite this Entry

“Augean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Augean. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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