Molotov cocktail

noun

Mo·​lo·​tov cocktail ˈmä-lə-ˌtȯf- 

ˈmȯ-, 

ˈmō-, 

-ˌtȯv-

: a crude bomb made of a bottle filled with a flammable liquid (such as gasoline) and usually fitted with a wick (such as a saturated rag) that is ignited just before the bottle is hurled

Examples of Molotov cocktail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the months before the surge in operations, police lost 25 armored vehicles to ambushes involving barricades, trenches and Molotov cocktail attacks, authorities said. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026

For a time, tensions were so high that Thaw and his mother took shifts watching to make sure the bamboo in their front yard didn’t erupt in flames from Molotov cocktails. —Makiya Seminera, Fortune, 26 Jan. 2026

Specifically, he's accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at marchers who were demonstrating in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza. —Alan Gionet, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026

On April 9, 1998, Haines was sleeping at a friend's home in Sydney when Walker threw a Molotov cocktail into the residence, according to news.com.au. —Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Vyacheslav M. Molotov

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Molotov cocktail

• abigail
• cottontail
• countervail
• fingernail
• martingale
• mesoscale
• microscale
• monorail
• nanoscale
• ponytail
• swallowtail
• wensleydale