self-destruct

verb

self-de·​struct ˌself-di-ˈstrəkt How to pronounce self-destruct (audio)
self-destructed; self-destructing; self-destructs
Synonyms of self-destructnext

intransitive verb

: to destroy oneself or itself
self-destruct adjective

Examples of self-destruct in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Given Democrats’ overwhelming lead in the state’s voter registration, the only realistic chance of Hilton winning in November would be for her Democratic rival to self-destruct in some way. Dan Walters, Mercury News, 23 May 2026 Now, the material doesn’t just spontaneously self-destruct. New Atlas, 11 May 2026 In the summer of 1991, Pinatubo, a volcano in the Philippines, self-destructed. Quanta Magazine, 8 May 2026 Researchers have developed a new type of plastic that can self-destruct on command. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-destruct

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-destruct was in 1968

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Cite this Entry

“Self-destruct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-destruct. Accessed 30 May. 2026.

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