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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Unfortunately, Lewis just so happened to recently find himself at the scene of a murder involving none other than Rose's policeman ex-boyfriend Joel (Kyle Gallner), the person who witnessed Rose's self-immolation in the final minutes of the first movie and damned himself in the process. Megan McCluskey, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024 The fruit vendor Mohamed Bouazizi’s self-immolation 14 years ago inspired Tunisians to topple their longtime dictator and kicked off the 2011 Arab Spring. Ian Bremmer, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024 Anderson steals scenes, but Billie Piper carries the film as Newsnight booker Sam McAlister, who works her bum off to secure Andrew’s public self-immolation. EW.com, 14 Sep. 2024 In June, Trump survived the first debate of the 2024 Presidential election season owing to the self-immolation of his opponent, Joe Biden. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2024 The other reason for the Venu companies to promise self-immolation in nine years? Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 6 Aug. 2024 But it also should be noted that such an operation would represent a type of national economic self-immolation. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 27 July 2024 His self-immolation, in a busy road junction in Saigon, was designed for maximum publicity, with journalists contacted beforehand. Austin Chen, theweek, 15 Mar. 2024 On Sunday, just more than 24 hours before the demonstration at 30 Rock, U.S. airman Aaron Bushnell died by self-immolation in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near self-immolation

Cite this Entry

“Self-immolation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-immolation. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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