self-destruct

verb

self-de·​struct ˌself-di-ˈstrəkt 

self-destructed; self-destructing; self-destructs

intransitive verb

: to destroy oneself or itself

self-destruct adjective

Examples of self-destruct in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For Flight 8 in particular, the engines shut down unexpectedly minutes after launch, causing the spacecraft to essentially fall apart and self-destruct in midair. —Gayoung Lee, Scientific American, 28 May 2025

Her erratic moods and default to self-destruct impacts all of her relationships as moments of levity erupt into violence and optimism simmers to despair. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 May 2025

Now, new observations of the aftermath of same event from the James Webb Space Telescope have suggested a scenario previously only considered in the realms of science fiction: that a planet about the size of Jupiter self-destructed by heading straight into its parent star. —Jorge Garay, Wired News, 28 Apr. 2025

Again, this is where a lot of people get trapped, either out of boredom or a compulsion to self-destruct. —Olivia Petter, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-destruct

• aqueduct
• deconstruct
• reconstruct
• abduct
• conduct
• construct
• deduct
• destruct
• induct
• instruct
• obstruct
• bucked