immolate

verb

im·​mo·​late ˈi-mə-ˌlāt 

immolated; immolating

transitive verb

1

: to kill or destroy especially by fire

2

: to offer in sacrifice

especially : to kill as a sacrificial victim

immolator

ˈi-mə-ˌlā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• sacrifice
• offer

Examples of immolate in a Sentence

a man who immolated himself as an act of protest

a ceremony in which they immolated their cherished possessions so that the gods would send rain

Recent Examples on the Web

The willingness to self-immolate, often in isolation, under heavy surveillance, and with no expectation of immediate results, foreshadows how far Tibetans may be prepared to go to challenge Chinese rule. —Tenzin Dorjee, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025

Eventually, their own stars would have died, immolating or jettisoning them in the process. —Robin George Andrews, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2025

Her ex-boyfriend Joel (Kyle Gallner) arrives just in time to witness Rose, now possessed, immolate herself, thereby transferring the curse to him. —Jane Lacroix, People.com, 15 May 2025

Three factions, three agendas, one nestled inside the next like a Russian doll: garden-variety Trumpian power-lust and piracy, covering over a deeper plan to radically winnow down the government, covering over a still deeper fever dream of completely immolating the government. —Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin immolatus, past participle of immolare to sprinkle with meal before sacrificing, sacrifice, from in- + mola sacrificial barley cake, literally, millstone; akin to Latin molere to grind — more at meal

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for immolate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

immolate

verb

im·​mo·​late ˈim-ə-ˌlāt 

immolated; immolating

: to kill as a sacrifice

immolation

ˌim-ə-ˈlā-shən

noun

immolator

ˈim-ə-ˌlāt-ər 

noun