self-destruct
verb
self-de·struct
ˌself-di-ˈstrəkt 
self-destructed; self-destructing; self-destructs
: to destroy oneself or itself
self-destruct
adjective
Examples of self-destruct in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Performances on a more human scale include an impressive Luke Thallon as Roman Abramovich, an ally to Berezovsky who navigates a new alliance with Putin when his fellow oligarch self-destructs.
—
Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024
Irregular pits several miles across and more than two miles deep hint at ancient pyroclastic volcanoes that self-destructed.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
And finally, there was a bunch of very cool security stuff, including a circuit that self-destructs.
—Stephen Cass, IEEE Spectrum, 20 Mar. 2024
Engineers activated a self-destruct mechanism while the ship was in mid-air.
—USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024
SpaceX engineers modified multiple systems in the wake of the failures, including work to beef up the rocket's self-destruct system, to improve engine performance and to protect the pad with a high-power water deluge system that also deadens the acoustic shock of engine ignition.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2024
This led to the engines shutting down early and the self-destruct system ending the mission.
—George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 27 Feb. 2024
The problem caused the spacecraft to self-destruct in space.
—Aashna Shah, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2024
The extract, which is taken from the cannabis sativa plant, damages certain harmful cancer cells and forces them to self-destruct, the researchers with Australia’s Charles Darwin University said, according to a Feb. 8 news release.
—Mitchell Willetts, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2024
Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024
Irregular pits several miles across and more than two miles deep hint at ancient pyroclastic volcanoes that self-destructed.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
And finally, there was a bunch of very cool security stuff, including a circuit that self-destructs.
—Stephen Cass, IEEE Spectrum, 20 Mar. 2024
Engineers activated a self-destruct mechanism while the ship was in mid-air.
—USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024
SpaceX engineers modified multiple systems in the wake of the failures, including work to beef up the rocket's self-destruct system, to improve engine performance and to protect the pad with a high-power water deluge system that also deadens the acoustic shock of engine ignition.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2024
This led to the engines shutting down early and the self-destruct system ending the mission.
—George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 27 Feb. 2024
The problem caused the spacecraft to self-destruct in space.
—Aashna Shah, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2024
The extract, which is taken from the cannabis sativa plant, damages certain harmful cancer cells and forces them to self-destruct, the researchers with Australia’s Charles Darwin University said, according to a Feb. 8 news release.
—Mitchell Willetts, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-destruct.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near self-destruct
Cite this Entry
“Self-destruct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-destruct. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share