self-punishing

adjective

self-pun·​ish·​ing ˌself-ˈpə-ni-shiŋ How to pronounce self-punishing (audio)
: acting or serving to punish oneself
self-punishing thoughts
… it squared with what they knew about the troubled soul of Meriwether Lewis; … how hard he was on himself; … and how self-punishing he was when he felt that he was not meeting his own or the world's expectations.Clay S. Jenkinson

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-punishing was circa 1586

Dictionary Entries Near self-punishing

Cite this Entry

“Self-punishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-punishing. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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