immolating
Setting ablaze ceremonially
Immolating is the present participle of immolate, meaning to kill as a sacrifice or to destroy by fire.
The word carries ceremonial weight—ancient priests immolated animals to appease gods.
Self-immolation, setting oneself on fire as protest, became a powerful image of political resistance in the twentieth century: The monk immolating himself shocked the world.
Figuratively, to immolate is to sacrifice something valued: He immolated his career for the cause.
Combustion in progress
- offeringSomething presented or given
- altarSacred ritual table
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- pyreFuneral burning heap
holocaust · sacred · ceremonial · deity · worship · temple · oblation · consecration
Suffering for conviction
- suicideVoluntary death by oneself
- self-sacrificeSurrendering for others' benefit
- kamikazeReckless to fatal extremes
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
desperation · political · demonstration · monk · gasoline · flames · defiance · statement
Causing complete ruin
- ruiningCausing complete destruction
- sacrificingGiving up something valued
- careerLifelong occupational pursuit
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
relationships · ego · pride · ambition · sabotaging · annihilating · obliterating · surrendering
burning
Combustion in progress
pyre · holocaust · sacred · ceremonial · deity · worship · temple · oblation · consecration · victim
martyrdom
Suffering for conviction
- suicideVoluntary death by oneself
- self-sacrificeSurrendering for others' benefit
- kamikazeReckless to fatal extremes
protest · desperation · political · demonstration · monk · gasoline · flames · defiance · statement · extreme
destroying
Causing complete ruin
- ruiningCausing complete destruction
- sacrificingGiving up something valued
- careerLifelong occupational pursuit
reputation · relationships · ego · pride · ambition · sabotaging · annihilating · obliterating · surrendering · relinquishing
immolatingsaving
Reserving for future use
rescuing · preserving · sparing · protecting · shielding
immolatingextinguishing
Causing to stop burning
quenching · dousing · smothering · putting out · snuffing out
immolatingsparing
Using resources minimally
redeeming · ransoming · withholding · reclaiming · reprieving