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 is accused of using a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to burn people who gathered on the pedestrian mall in downtown Boulder for a weekly demonstration urging the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. —Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026

He is accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at a group of people marching in support of Israeli hostages, killing one person and injuring many others. —Christa Swanson, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026

In June 2025, Hayam El Gamal’s husband, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at demonstrators attending a march in Boulder in support of Israeli hostages. —Saul Pink, San Antonio Express-News, 25 Apr. 2026

This time, people are throwing Molotov cocktails — literally and metaphorically. —Larz May, Fortune, 24 Apr. 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