What does "moloch" mean?
Any of species Moloch horridus of Australian lizards, sole species of the genus Moloch.
Moloch
/ˈmoʊlɑk/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any of species Moloch horridus of Australian lizards, sole species of the genus Moloch.
- Grammar: moloch is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: adad, adapa, ancient near eastern name, anu.
- Useful contrasts: benevolent force, benign deity, nondeity.
- Usage evidence: They broke their backs lifting Moloch to Heaven!
How to use "moloch"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "moloch" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "moloch" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "moloch" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "moloch" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "moloch" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adad" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "moloch", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of species Moloch horridus of Australian lizards, sole species of the genus Moloch.
- 2 any lizard of the genus Moloch wordnet
- 3 a tyrannical power to be propitiated by human subservience or sacrifice wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 An ancient Ammonite deity worshiped by the Canaanites, Phoenician and related cultures in North Africa and the Levant, often depicted with the head of a bull.
- 2 A person or thing demanding or requiring a very costly sacrifice. figuratively
"[W]e can't without wonder remember that horrid Invention projected in this place, but thanks be to God diſappointed, wherein there was not Reverence to the ſacred Bones of Princes, but all were at one blaſt to be offer'd up to Moloch."
Antonyms
Example
"They broke their backs lifting Moloch to Heaven!"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "moloch"?
Common synonyms include: adad, adapa, ancient near eastern name, anu, anunaki, ashur.
How do you use "moloch" in a sentence?
They broke their backs lifting Moloch to Heaven!
How do you pronounce "moloch"?
Pronounced /ˈmoʊlɑk/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From the Proto-Semitic *malk- (“king”). The figurative sense derives from the Old Testament, in which it is alleged that the cult of Moloch involved the sacrifice of human children.
Etymology 2
From Hebrew מולך (molokh, “Ammonite god, worshipped by Canaanites and Phoenicians, who demanded child-sacrifice. Mentioned in Leviticus and Deuteronomy”).