out-Herod

verb

out-Her·​od ˌau̇t-ˈher-əd How to pronounce out-Herod (audio)
out-Heroded; out-Heroding; out-Herods

transitive verb

: to exceed in violence or extravagance
usually used in the phrase out-Herod Herod

Word History

Etymology

out- + Herod the Great, depicted in medieval mystery plays as a blustering tyrant

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of out-Herod was in 1604

Dictionary Entries Near out-Herod

Cite this Entry

“Out-Herod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/out-Herod. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

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