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

Soliman allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at people marching in support of Israel, killing an 82-year-old woman and injuring a dozen other people. —Nancy M. Preyor-Johnson, San Antonio Express-News, 2 Feb. 2026

The group faced allegations that ranged from throwing Molotov cocktails at police officers to providing protesters with food. —Dan Raby, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026

Mohamed Sabry Soliman had allegedly attacked demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado at a Jewish event supporting Israeli hostages in Gaza with a homemade flamethrower and Molotov cocktails, according to federal prosecutors. —Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 28 Jan. 2026

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

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