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

Last month, a 45-year-old man allegedly used a Molotov cocktail to attack members of the Jewish community during a march in Colorado, killing an 82-year-old woman and injuring 14 others. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 12 July 2025

In 2024 the Trondheim Jewish cemetery was vandalized and someone threw a Molotov cocktail at the synagogue. —Dan Fellner, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2025

Others have been charged with use of Molotov cocktails against sheriff’s deputies and throwing bricks at federal law enforcement. —Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025

The person who threw Molotov cocktails at demonstrators attending a march for Israeli hostages in Colorado last month: that’s what globalizing the intifada looks like. —Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 2 July 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