Moloch

[ moh-lok, mol-uhk ]

noun

a deity whose worship was marked by the propitiatory sacrifice of children by their own parents. 2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 32:35.
anything conceived of as requiring appalling sacrifice: the Moloch of war.

(lowercase) a spiny agamid lizard, Moloch horridus, of Australian deserts, that resembles the horned lizard.

Origin of Moloch

From Late Latin, from Greek Molóch, from Hebrew Mōlekh, which has the consonants of melekh “king” and the vowels of bōsheth “shame” (caused by idolatry and human sacrifice)

Also Mo·lech [moh-lek] /ˈmoʊ lɛk/ (for defs. 1, 2).

Words Nearby Moloch

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Moloch in a sentence

While Ichabod is checking for non-existent cell service, Abbie learns that Moloch is planning to release a demon army on earth.
Naked Ben Franklin Christens the Campy Return of ‘Sleepy Hollow’ | Amy Zimmerman | September 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
But you carried a tabernacle for your Moloch, and the image of your idols, the star of your god, which you made to yourselves.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | Various
These finally seduced him into permitting temples to be built to Moloch and their other false gods.
Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 3 of 8 | Various
Hath he not said ergo to the poor saints, to your sons and your daughters, whom he hath burned in the fire to Moloch?
The Saint's Tragedy | Charles Kingsley
He seemed like the minister of some dark rite of heathenism, preparing to offer up a victim to the Moloch of his superstition.
The Portland Sketch Book | Various

Ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them.
The Astronomy of the Bible | E. Walter Maunder

British Dictionary definitions for moloch (1 of 2)

moloch

/ (ˈməʊlɒk) /

noun

a spiny Australian desert-living lizard, Moloch horridus, that feeds on ants: family Agamidae (agamas): Also called: mountain devil, spiny lizard

British Dictionary definitions for Moloch (2 of 2)

Moloch

Molech (ˈməʊlɛk)

/ (ˈməʊlɒk) /

noun

Old Testament a Semitic deity to whom parents sacrificed their children

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for Moloch

Moloch

[ (moh-lok, mol-uhk) ]

A Canaanite idol who demanded the sacrifice of first-born children. The Old Testament prophets railed against the worship of Moloch by the Israelites.

Notes for Moloch

Moloch also appears as one of the fallen angels in Milton's Paradise Lost and as a malevolent figure in other allegorical works of literature.

Notes for Moloch

By extension, a “Moloch” is something that has the power to exact extreme sacrifice.

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