self-immolation

noun

self-im·​mo·​la·​tion ˌself-ˌi-mə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce self-immolation (audio)
: a deliberate and willing sacrifice of oneself often by fire
self-immolate verb

Examples of self-immolation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Snyder’s origin story introduces Kal-el and Krypton’s most fascist generals (led by Michael Shannon’s explosive General Zod) as the only survivors of their advanced world’s self-immolation. Rory Doherty, Vulture, 11 July 2025 But also, there’s a hunger for leadership in opposition to this administration, and the Democrats are losing an opportunity to be those leaders with their endless self-immolation. Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025 According to Hindu mythology, the Hinglaj Devi temple is one of the sites where the remains of Sati, a goddess of marital devotion and longevity, fell to earth after her self-immolation. Zia Ur-Rehman Asim Hafeez, New York Times, 30 May 2025 The self-immolation, which resulted in Azzarello’s death, set a dramatic and dark tone at the trial’s outset but ultimately faded into the background of the historic case. Ella Lee, The Hill, 28 May 2025 Playing him was a kind of self-immolation for Tesfaye. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 16 May 2025 The last flareup in the early 2010s involved a string of self-immolation incidents that critics called a desperate cry against the Chinese government’s ever-tightening grip on Tibetan society. Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 1 May 2025 Gough’s performance is a savage self-immolation of a woman who only knows how to feign joy — and then only ever in extremis — but equally crucial to the moment is the clothing that costume designer Michael Wilkinson arms her with. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Apr. 2025 It was sparked by the self-immolation of a Tunisian street vendor to protest police corruption and abuses. Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-immolation was in 1799

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Cite this Entry

“Self-immolation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-immolation. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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