MOLOCH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Moloch mean? 

• MOLOCH (noun)
  The noun MOLOCH has 3 senses:

1. a tyrannical power to be propitiated by human subservience or sacrifice

2. god of the Canaanites and Phoenicians to whom parents sacrificed their children

3. any lizard of the genus Moloch

  Familiarity information: MOLOCH used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MOLOCH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A tyrannical power to be propitiated by human subservience or sacrifice

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Context example:

duty has become the Moloch of modern life

Hypernyms ("Moloch" is a kind of...):

force; power (one possessing or exercising power or influence or authority)

Sense 2

Meaning:

God of the Canaanites and Phoenicians to whom parents sacrificed their children

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

Molech; Moloch

Instance hypernyms:

Semitic deity (a deity worshipped by the ancient Semites)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Any lizard of the genus Moloch

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("moloch" is a kind of...):

agamid; agamid lizard (a lizard of the family Agamidae)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "moloch"):

Moloch horridus; mountain devil; spiny lizard (desert lizard that feeds on ants)

Holonyms ("moloch" is a member of...):

genus Moloch (genus of Australian desert lizard)