self-destructive

adjective

self-de·​struc·​tive ˌself-di-ˈstrək-tiv 

: acting or tending to harm or destroy oneself

self-destructive behavior

also : suicidal

a self-destructive impulse

self-destructiveness noun

Examples of self-destructive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His work is wrought with tension around the invigorating, often self-destructive relationship between the American man and militarism. — Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026

In 1972, a young, self-destructive, and, perhaps most importantly, unemployed Bourdain landed a job washing dishes at a seafood restaurant called the Flagship and slowly moved his way up to the salad station. — Air Mail, 8 Aug. 2026

Although David’s use of psychotherapeutic ideas is self-destructive, Baldwin uses psychoanalytic concepts, particularly repression, in this and other works. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 4 Aug. 2026

But the actor never found an equal role, partly because his talent was married to a deep self-destructive streak. — Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-destructive

• deconstructive
• nondestructive
• nonproductive
• reconstructive
• reproductive
• unproductive
• abductive
• conductive
• constructive
• deductive
• destructive
• inductive

Medical Definition

self-destructive

adjective

self-de·​struc·​tive -ˈstrək-tiv 

: acting or tending to harm or destroy oneself

self-destructive behavior

also : suicidal

self-destructively adverb

self-destructiveness noun