herculean

adj

1. Of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.; suggesting Hercules in size or strength.

   “But this is not the best:—look, pr'ythee, Charmian, / How this Herculean Roman does become / The carriage of his chafe.”

2. Requiring a huge amount of work; of extraordinary difficulty.

   “a Herculean labour”

   “He replied in a dry manner, that I would find it a Herculean task to chastise everybody who should laugh at my expense;”

   “2006, Jeremy Clarkson, Top Gear (TV show), commenting on the Bugatti Veyron automobile The guys at Volkswagen have a Herculean task.”

   “There are thousands of known isotopes, and to have a functional and easily maintainable exhibit for all of these would require a Herculean effort.”

3. (alt-of)Alternative letter-case form of Herculean.

   “Still there are some loop-holes out of which a man may creep, and dare to think and act for himself; but for a woman it is an herculean task, because she has difficulties peculiar to her sex to overcome, which require almost super-human powers.”

   “In October 1998, heavy rains brought on by two consecutive typhoons caused serious flooding in northern Taiwan. Fortunately, the floods receded in a short time and many people went to the disaster areas to help the victims. For example, over one thousand Tzu Chi volunteers helped city workers and military forces clean up debris in Hsichih. They finished the herculean job in just one day.”