immolate

verb

im·​mo·​late ˈi-mə-ˌlāt How to pronounce immolate (audio)
immolated; immolating

transitive verb

1
: to kill or destroy especially by fire
2
: to offer in sacrifice
especially : to kill as a sacrificial victim
immolator noun

Examples of immolate in a Sentence

a man who immolated himself as an act of protest a ceremony in which they immolated their cherished possessions so that the gods would send rain
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Eventually, their own stars would have died, immolating or jettisoning them in the process. Robin George Andrews, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2025 Her ex-boyfriend Joel (Kyle Gallner) arrives just in time to witness Rose, now possessed, immolate herself, thereby transferring the curse to him. Jane Lacroix, People.com, 15 May 2025 Because the courts were never going to be a substitute for Congress and the public standing up to a self-immolating executive branch. Leah Litman, TIME, 28 Feb. 2025 Advertisement To some, the self-immolating media blitz recast Crowley as willing to speak truth to power and stand up for her troops amid one of the worst urban firestorms in California history. Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for immolate

Word History

Etymology

Latin immolatus, past participle of immolare to sprinkle with meal before sacrificing, sacrifice, from in- + mola sacrificial barley cake, literally, millstone; akin to Latin molere to grind — more at meal

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of immolate was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Immolate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immolate. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

immolate

verb
im·​mo·​late ˈim-ə-ˌlāt How to pronounce immolate (audio)
immolated; immolating
: to kill as a sacrifice
immolation
ˌim-ə-ˈlā-shən
noun
immolator noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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