Definition of impale
impaled
;impaling
transitive verb
1 : to join (coats of arms) on a heraldic shield divided vertically by a pale
2a : to pierce with or as if with something pointed; especially : to torture or kill by fixing on a sharp stakeb : to fix in an inescapable or helpless position
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Examples of impale in a Sentence
impale a marshmallow or two on that stick and let's start toasting
Recent Examples of impale from the Web
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A more compelling villain would have helped matters, and one scene in which Diana brutally impales a foe with her sword is an incongruous fit with the movie’s overall tone.
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Like many fans of the Joss Whedon space western Firefly, Kyle Hill was shocked by the end of the Serenity movie, when fan-favorite character Wash (Alan Tudyk) was unceremoniously impaled by a Reaver harpoon.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'impale'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of impale
Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French empaler, from Medieval Latin impalare, from Latin in- + palus stake — more at pole
First Known Use: 1605
IMPALE Defined for English Language Learners
impale
playDefinition of impale for English Language Learners
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: to cause a pointed object to go into or through (someone or something)
IMPALE Defined for Kids
impale
playDefinition of impale for Students
impaled
;impaling
: to pierce with something pointed
Learn More about impale
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See words that rhyme with impale Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for impale Spanish Central: Translation of impale Nglish: Translation of impale for Spanish speakers
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