napalm
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
napalmsimple
-
napalmssimple
-
have napalmedperfect
-
has napalmedperfect
-
are napalmingprogressive
-
am napalmingprogressive
-
is napalmingprogressive
-
have been napalmingperfect progressive
-
has been napalmingperfect progressive
Past
-
napalmedsimple
-
had napalmedperfect
-
was napalmingprogressive
-
were napalmingprogressive
-
had been napalmingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of napalm
An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; na(phthene) + palm(itate)
Explanation
Napalm is a jelly-like form of gasoline used in fire bombs and flamethrowers. It's a deadly, painful weapon. Napalm sticks to skin, causing severe burns and making it one of the most horrible weapons used in combat. It was used often in the Vietnam War, and images of victims suffering from napalm burns helped make people question U.S. tactics and the war in general. These days you might hear the word napalm used to describe anything deadly or unpleasant. Spicy hot chicken wings could be like napalm on your taste buds or a touchy issue might be "political napalm."
Vocabulary lists containing napalm
"On the Vietnam War, 1967," Vocabulary from the speech
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Fallen Angels
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Chapter 30: The Vietnam War
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Barney Greenway, lead singer of Napalm Death, also from Birmingham, says the "density and the depth of the music they were making was completely new".
From BBC • Jul. 2, 2025
The outlet reports that several bands such as Radiohead, Blur, Napalm Death, JG Thirlwell and Faith No More have cited Cardiacs as influences on their music.
From Fox News • Jul. 22, 2020
Why Napalm Is a Cautionary Tale for Tech Giants Pursuing Military Contracts How should employees at Microsoft, Amazon, or other platforms think about them military contracts that their bosses are pursuing?
From The Verge • Mar. 6, 2019
Indeed, it is often the workers who are blamed when they inevitably make mistakes, but as the Napalm Girl incident shows, the problem is a much more difficult, systemic one.
From Slate • Apr. 19, 2018
Philip Ridley's visceral Tender Napalm heads into the Theatre Royal York next Thursday as part of the ongoing Takeover Festival.
From The Guardian • Jun. 1, 2012
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
