moloch: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Literary, Academic
Quick answer
What does “moloch” mean?
An ancient Canaanite deity to whom children were sacrificed by fire.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An ancient Canaanite deity to whom children were sacrificed by fire; a false god.
Any person, institution, or system that demands or requires a very costly sacrifice.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition or spelling.
Connotations
The literary/metaphorical usage is understood similarly in both variants.
Frequency
Rare in everyday speech in both regions. More likely to be encountered in academic, historical, or literary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “moloch” in a Sentence
[Moloch] + of + [demanding system/institution] (e.g., the Moloch of war)sacrifice + to + [Moloch]be/ become/feed + [Moloch]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “moloch” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Moloch-like demands
American English
- a Moloch-like bureaucracy
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May be used metaphorically in critical discourse about ruthless capitalism or corporate greed (e.g., 'the corporate Moloch').
Academic
Used in religious studies, history, sociology, and literary criticism to describe exploitative systems or ideologies.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used for dramatic effect.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “moloch”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “moloch”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “moloch”
- Misspelling as 'Molech' (a variant, but 'Moloch' is standard).
- Mispronouncing the final 'ch' as /tʃ/ (like 'church'); it is /k/.
- Using it as a common noun without understanding its severe negative connotation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When referring specifically to the ancient deity, it is always capitalised (Moloch). In modern figurative use, it is often but not always capitalised; lowercase (moloch) is sometimes seen, but the capital is more common to retain the allusion.
No, 'Moloch' is not standardly used as a verb. It functions almost exclusively as a proper or common noun.
It comes via Latin and Greek from Hebrew 'Mōlek', the name of an Ammonite god mentioned in the Hebrew Bible.
No, it is a low-frequency word. It is primarily used in formal, literary, or academic contexts to create a powerful metaphorical image of a destructive, sacrificial force.
An ancient Canaanite deity to whom children were sacrificed by fire.
Moloch is usually formal, literary, academic in register.
Moloch: in British English it is pronounced /ˈməʊlɒk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmoʊlɑːk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Feed the Moloch (to sacrifice something valuable to an insatiable demand)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MOLOCH' as a 'MONSTER' requiring a 'LOt' of sacrifiCe (the 'CH' sound).
Conceptual Metaphor
A POWERFUL ENTITY IS A DEVOURING GOD (consumes resources, lives, freedom).
Practice
Quiz
In modern figurative use, 'a Moloch' most closely refers to: