What is a pyrrhie?

Answer 1

A pyrrhic victory is a term used to describe a situation where someone wins a battle or achieves a goal, but the cost of that victory is so devastating that it negates any sense of achievement or profit. The term originates from King Pyrrhus of Epirus, whose army suffered irreplaceable casualties in defeating the Romans at Heraclea and Asculum during the Pyrrhic War. Essentially, it highlights the idea that some victories can come at such a high price that they ultimately feel like defeats.