impale

verb

im·​pale im-ˈpāl 

impaled; impaling

transitive verb

1

a

: to pierce with or as if with something pointed

slipped and impaled his leg on the spike

especially : to torture or kill by fixing on a sharp stake

b

: to fix in an inescapable or helpless position

2

: to join (coats of arms) on a heraldic shield divided vertically by a pale

impalement

im-ˈpāl-mənt 

noun

impaler

im-ˈpā-lər 

noun

Synonyms of impale

• stab
• pierce
• puncture
• pick
• stick
• jab

Examples of impale in a Sentence

impale a marshmallow or two on that stick and let's start toasting

Recent Examples on the Web

The group was tracking a black rhino fitted with a GPS device when the rhino charged out of the brush and impaled Van Jaarsveld with its horn. —Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 29 Apr. 2026

The black rhino, which weighed approximately 2,900 pounds, charged at van Jaarsveld and fatally impaled him. —Ryan Brennan april 27, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026

Lind — despite being stabbed in the eye and impaled with a samurai sword — managed to survive the attack. —Tessa Stuart, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026

Back in the family’s house, the walking corpse shoves a boy onto the dishwasher, impaling him full of cutlery. —Jordan Moreau, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French empaler, from Medieval Latin impalare, from Latin in- + palus stake — more at pole

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for impale

• airmail
• assail
• avail
• bewail
• blackmail
• cattail
• cocktail
• curtail
• derail
• detail
• dovetail
• email

Kids Definition

impale

verb

im·​pale im-ˈpā(ə)l 

impaled; impaling

: to pierce with or as if with something pointed

impalement

-mənt 

noun

impaler

-ər 

noun