Something of an evasive or retreating nature, something consistently out of reach; a tantalising thing.
Used in a Sentence
tantalus
Definitions, parts of speech, synonyms, and sentence examples for tantalus.
Editorial note
Trying to pay for services through taxes in the US is like Tantalus trying to drink from the river.
Examples10
Definitions4
Parts of speech1
Quick take
Something of an evasive or retreating nature, something consistently out of reach; a tantalising thing.
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of tantalus gathered in one view.
A stand in which to lock up drink decanters while keeping them visible.
A stork of the genus Mycteria (formerly Tantalus), especially the American wood stork, Mycteria americana.
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for tantalus.
noun
Something of an evasive or retreating nature, something consistently out of reach; a tantalising thing.
noun
A stand in which to lock up drink decanters while keeping them visible.
noun
A stork of the genus Mycteria (formerly Tantalus), especially the American wood stork, Mycteria americana.
noun
(Greek mythology) A Phrygian king who was condemned to remain in Tartarus, chin-deep in water, with fruit-laden branches hanging above his head; whenever he tried to drink or eat, the water and fruit receded out of reach.
Example sentences
Trying to pay for services through taxes in the US is like Tantalus trying to drink from the river.
For instance, the myths of the Holy Grail and Tantalus are ones of insoluble challenge and dilemma.
He calls it a Cup of Tantalus and it's part of his Klein Bottle collection.
The songs ended up starting with the current state of essentially short-lived AIs (Turn the Git is about the Sisyphus churn, Runnin' in the Wire is about the Tantalus of AI pride before being wiped).
So to some it feels like a Tantalus punishment.
I call them Tantalus footers, because they're always just out of reach.
There are a lot of hurdles and roadblocks you will face, especially when you are starting out, it will seem that every single piece of information is just out of your reach, like Tantalus and the grapes.
Proper noun examples
It's not any worse than Dante Alighieri's Inferno, or the mythic punishments for Sisyphus, Tantalus, Prometheus, or Loki.
Is it somehow a sin that you will be punished for by not having it, like some sort of modern man's version of Tantalus?
Thus ends Humanity, in a Tantalus-ian hell of infinitely targeted ads we will no longer have the wherewithal to respond with purchases, spending our remaining days in unbounded consumerist ennui....
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use tantalus in a sentence?
Trying to pay for services through taxes in the US is like Tantalus trying to drink from the river.
What does tantalus mean?
Something of an evasive or retreating nature, something consistently out of reach; a tantalising thing.
What part of speech is tantalus?
tantalus is commonly used as noun.