brimstone
2 synonyms for brimstone, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An old-fashioned name for sulfur, especially as used in religious writing to describe the fire and punishment of hell.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
native sulfur
native sulphur
How to use brimstone
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
fire and brimstone
brimstone sermon
Etymology
From Old English brynstan, literally "burn-stone" — the rock that burns. It's the same word family as burn and stone, and today survives mostly in the phrase "fire and brimstone."
Full origin of brimstone →Frequently asked questions
What does “brimstone” mean?
The word “brimstone” means an old-fashioned name for sulfur, especially as used in religious writing to describe the fire and punishment of hell. In plain terms, an old word for sulfur, now used almost only in the phrase "fire and brimstone" to describe hellfire-style preaching.
How do you pronounce “brimstone”?
“Brimstone” is pronounced BRIHMS-tohn (/ˈbɹɪmstoʊn/ in IPA).
How do you use “brimstone” in a sentence?
Here is “brimstone” used in a sentence: “The preacher warned of fire and brimstone for sinners.”
What part of speech is “brimstone”?
“Brimstone” is a noun.
Where does the word “brimstone” come from?
The word “brimstone” comes from Old English. From Old English brynstan, literally "burn-stone" — the rock that burns. It's the same word family as burn and stone, and today survives mostly in the phrase "fire and brimstone.".
How many meanings does “brimstone” have?
“Brimstone” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an old-fashioned name for sulfur, especially as used in religious writing to describe the fire and punishment of hell.
