impale

verb im·pale \ im-ˈpāl \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of impale

impaled; impaling

transitive verb

1 : to join (coats of arms) on a heraldic shield divided vertically by a pale

2 a : to pierce with or as if with something pointed; especially : to torture or kill by fixing on a sharp stake

b : to fix in an inescapable or helpless position

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impalement

play \im-ˈpāl-mənt\ noun

—

impaler

play \im-ˈpā-lər\ noun

See impale defined for English-language learners

See impale defined for kids

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

One awful night after Charley has hired on at the racetrack, the secretary's jealous husband shows up at their door, bursts into their home, and puts Ray through a window, impaling him on a shard of glass.

— j.r. jones, Chicago Reader, "Lean on Pete tells the story of a horse and a teenager who feels like one," 12 Apr. 2018
Hospitals saw patients with missing limbs, cuts, bruises, and bodies impaled by glass, metal and wood.

— dawn mitchell, Indianapolis Star, "1965 Palm Sunday tornadoes: 'As close to hell as I ever want to be'," 2 Sep. 2017
Doctors in India saved a man who was impaled by a 4-foot poll that went through his groin and out his neck.

— melanie dadourian, Fox News, "Man impaled by a 4-foot pole through his groin is saved by doctors," 15 Mar. 2018
The very first kill of the season involves a man falling from a 15-story balcony and landing in a tree, fully impaled.

— josh wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Hard Sun' Creator on Show's "Visceral and Shocking" Violence," 8 Mar. 2018
And in the end, Chris uses those mounted antlers to impale and kill Dean and earn his escape.

— kaitlyn frey, PEOPLE.com, "Jordan Peele Wears Bloody Antler Pin as a Tribute to Get Out Symbolism at Academy Awards," 4 Mar. 2018
For reasons that are not mentioned in the Tennessee Highway Patrol report, Hannah veered into the median and hit a guardrail, which impaled the driver’s side door, and struck her in the head and chest, killing her instantly.

— madeleine marr, miamiherald, "Grieving father sends message to Trump during Super Bowl | Miami Herald," 5 Feb. 2018
Having stalked or lured out a target spider, an Archaeid will strike swiftly, thrusting its two chelicerae downward to impale the prey, then holding it at a safe distance (out of range of venom or web attacks) until dead.

— ryan p. smith, Smithsonian, "Madagascar’s Ancient ‘Pelican Spiders’ Are As Striking As They Are Strange," 11 Jan. 2018
My daughter, Hannah Eimers, was fatally impaled by a defective Lindsay X-LITE guardrail end in Tennessee.

— madeleine marr, miamiherald, "Grieving father sends message to Trump during Super Bowl | Miami Herald," 5 Feb. 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1605

See Words from the same year

impale Synonyms

Synonyms

gore, harpoon, jab, lance, peck, pick, pierce, pink, puncture, run through, skewer, spear, spike, spit, stab, stick, transfix;

Related Words

spindle;

perforate, riddle;

bayonet, dirk, gimlet, pike, poniard, prong, quill;

pinprick, poke, prick, punch, thrust;

cut, knife, slice;

IMPALE Defined for English Language Learners

impale

verb

Definition of impale for English Language Learners

: to cause a pointed object to go into or through (someone or something)

IMPALE Defined for Kids

impale

verb im·pale \ im-ˈpāl \

Definition of impale for Students

impaled; impaling

: to pierce with something pointed

Learn More about impale

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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impale

Definition of impale

impalement

impaler

Examples of impale in a Sentence

Recent Examples of impale from the Web

Origin and Etymology of impale

impale Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

IMPALE Defined for English Language Learners

impale

Definition of impale for English Language Learners

IMPALE Defined for Kids

impale

Definition of impale for Students

Learn More about impale

Seen and Heard

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