Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

damoclean

adjective

/ˌdæməˈkliːən/

Definition

relating to a situation in which there is an imminent risk or danger, often used metaphorically to describe a precarious or threatening circumstance.

Examples

The damoclean sword of financial instability hung over the company as it faced bankruptcy.
She enjoyed her promotion, but the damoclean aspect of her new position made her uneasy.

Meaning

The term derives from the anecdote of Damocles, a courtier in the court of Dionysius II of Syracuse, who was granted the chance to enjoy the life of luxury while sitting under a sword suspended by a single hair, symbolizing the constant danger that accompanies great fortune.