out-Herod

verb

out-Her·​od ˌau̇t-ˈher-əd 

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