napalm

[ ney-pahm ]

noun

1. a highly incendiary jellylike substance used in fire bombs, flamethrowers, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. to drop bombs containing napalm on (troops, a city, or the like).

napalm

/ ˈneɪpɑːm; ˈnæ- /

noun

1. a thick and highly incendiary liquid, usually consisting of petrol gelled with aluminium soaps, used in firebombs, flame-throwers, etc

verb

1. tr to attack with napalm

napalm

/ nā′päm′ /

1. A firm jelly made by mixing gasoline with aluminum salts (made of fatty acids). It is used in some bombs and in flamethrowers. Napalm was developed during World War II.

Word History and Origins

Origin of napalm¹

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; na(phthene) + palm(itate)

Word History and Origins

Origin of napalm¹

C20: from na ( phthene ) + palm ( itate )

Example Sentences

So if you get asked a tough question about Biden and Gaza or whatever, you respond: "What's the Republican policy in Gaza? It'd be to napalm Gaza and erect a Trump Tower."

From Salon

He cited a line from the film “Apocalypse Now”: “I love the smell of napalm in the morning!”

From New York Times

Buell made the crucial decision in 1972 to run Ut’s photo of a naked young girl fleeing her village after being torched by napalm dropped by South Vietnamese Air Force aircraft.

From Seattle Times

In their typical self-aggrandizing style, a Trump campaign member told Semafor they plan on "dropping napalm after napalm on his head reminding the public of his very liberal views."

From Salon

Just as Agent Orange, napalm and carpet bombing in Vietnam didn’t hasten the war’s conclusion, neither will cluster munitions be the “game changer” that will noticeably affect the outcome of the current conflict in Ukraine.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• attack
• blast
• blow up
• bombard
• destroy
• raid
• strafe
• wipe out