brimstone
Americannoun
-
an obsolete name for sulphur
-
a common yellow butterfly, Gonepteryx rhamni , of N temperate regions of the Old World: family Pieridae
-
archaic a scolding nagging woman; virago
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of brimstone
before 1150; Middle English brinston, etc., late Old English brynstān. See burn 1, stone
Explanation
Brimstone is an old-fashioned word for sulfur, a chemical that's used to make matches, among other things. Brimstone is derived from the Old English brynstan and a root meaning "to burn." These days, few people refer to the non-metallic chemical element sulfur this way, but are more likely to use the word in the Biblical phrase "fire and brimstone." The burning smell of a lightning strike — and the association of lightning with divine punishment — produced the connection between burning sulfur, or brimstone, and God's wrath.
Vocabulary lists containing brimstone
Vocabulary from Readings 1, Unit 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Dealing with Dragons
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
It Doesn't Take a Genius
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
In the halcyon days of the televangelists, when Jim Bakker stood shoulder to shoulder with fire and brimstone preachers such as Jerry Farwell, Pat Robertson and Jimmy Swaggart, the collection plate always seemed bottomless.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
Jofra Archer is England's spearhead and captain Ben Stokes must demand the fire and brimstone he produced at the end of the day-night Test.
From BBC ● Dec. 11, 2025
In our modern dystopia, fire and brimstone have been replaced by ones and zeroes.
From Salon ● May 24, 2025
Televangelists such as Jimmy Swaggart, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, and Kenneth Copeland were preaching fire and brimstone and the importance of tithing.
From Slate ● Feb. 21, 2025
Then José Arcadio Buendía threw three doubloons into a pan and fused them with copper filings, orpiment, brimstone, and lead.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
