impale

verb im·pale \ im-ˈpāl \

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

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impaler

play \im-ˈpā-lər\ noun

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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

Debris torn from roofs or lifted from the ground turned into deadly projectiles, smashing windows and impaling people.

— alan gomez, USA TODAY, "As Hurricane Andrew memories fade, Florida weakens building codes," 10 Aug. 2017
Consider how absurdly the vampire kingpin Max is taken out: impaled on a wooden fence post when Grandpa’s truck careens into the house.

— brandon tensley, The Atlantic, "The Lost Boys’ Subtly Radical Vision of Family," 2 Aug. 2017
Also nobody gets stabbed, decapitated, disemboweled, impaled, poisoned, burned alive, blown into a million little pieces or shoved out the Moon Door.

— connie ogle, miamiherald, "Drink ‘Game of Thrones’ wine. It’s so much better than getting beheaded.," 13 July 2017
How satisfying to spy an assassin bug impaling a stinkbug or Japanese beetle in their grasp!

— ellen nibali, baltimoresun.com, "Garden Q&A: Black-eyed Susans with fungal leaf spot disease," 11 July 2017
A 22-year-old American is in serious condition after he was thrown from a bull, impaled in his left arm and then dragged.

— lisa marie segarra, Time, "Running of the Bulls in," 8 July 2017
As my burger’s bun toasted, it was impaled with a long, broken toothpick, a long intact toothpick, a short toothpick and a green toothpick with a curlicue at the end.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Where to eat, drink near Phoenix," 30 June 2017
Kahlo, who died in 1954 at age 47, endured polio as a child and nearly died in a bus accident that caused a railing to impale her body.

— janelle gelfand, Cincinnati.com, "'Frida' opens operatic window into life of artist Kahlo," 22 June 2017
One such table is laden with metal stands, on which several dozen decapitated doll heads of various shapes, expressions, colors, and hairstyles are impaled on spikes—an admonitory display of contemptible traitors from Tudor England’s hottest town.

— caity weaver, GQ, "The Ken Doll Reboot: Beefy, Cornrowed, and Pan-Racial," 21 June 2017

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.