napalm
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
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.
After “The Godfather” made him a movie star in his 40s, he remained a beloved character actor for half a century, adding “I love the smell of napalm in the morning” to the cultural lexicon.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026
He only had a few minutes of screen time but his famous line in Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 classic, "I love the smell of napalm in the morning", became legendary.
From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026
Spicy Chicken Sandwich has napalm aioli, spicy pickles and is served on a soft potato bun.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2022
This time the drum full of "napalm" started to burn, producing acrid black smoke that stunk like rubber, plastic and petrol.
From Salon • Nov. 1, 2021
“They also used napalm before we went in an area,” Allen said.
From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge
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.
