immolate

American  

[im-uh-leyt] / ˈɪm əˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

immolated, immolating

1. to sacrifice.

2. to kill as a sacrificial victim, as by fire; offer in sacrifice.

3. to destroy by fire.

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immolate British  

/ ˈɪməʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to kill or offer as a sacrifice, esp by fire

2. literary to sacrifice (something highly valued)

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Other Word Forms

• immolation noun
• immolator noun
• unimmolated adjective

Etymology

Origin of immolate

1540–50; < Latin immolātus, past participle of immolāre to sprinkle with holy meal prior to sacrificing, sacrifice, equivalent to im- im- ¹ + mol ( a ) sacrificial barley cake, literally, millstone ( see mill ¹) + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

Immolate is a verb that means to destroy something or someone, usually using fire, as a sacrifice to a higher cause. Do not try this at home. To protest the Vietnam War, some Buddhist monks would pour gasoline on their body, light a match, and immolate themselves, hoping that their fiery death would bring attention to the horror of war. The word comes from the Latin immolare, which means “sprinkled with sacrificial meal,” in reference to rituals where wheat grain would be sprinkled on the heads of human sacrifices. Immolation is a powerful statement, but talking it out is always a safer and less depressing option.

Example Sentences

In Barnhill’s case, a dragon periodically appears to immolate an idyllic town called Stone-in-the-Glen, leaving the villagers reliant on its dragon-hunting mayor to keep the creature at bay.

From New York Times • Apr. 8, 2022

Often the famous will immolate all on their own with one ill-considered remark or tweet.

From Washington Post • Jul. 6, 2015

Holt, now 56, is being called in to smooth over a crisis again, because no one at NBC imagined Williams' career at the network would immolate the way it did.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 22, 2015

Then her eyes flash with a look that could almost immolate you, and she gives you a tongue lashing that stings for days.

From MSNBC • Feb. 11, 2015

It was probably just peaceful despair and relief at final and complete abnegation, now that Judith was about to immolate the frustration’s vicarious recompense into the living fairy tale.

From "Absalom, Absalom!" by William Faulkner