self-destructive
adjective
self-de·struc·tive
ˌself-di-ˈstrək-tiv 
: acting or tending to harm or destroy oneself
self-destructive behavior
self-destructiveness
noun
Examples of self-destructive in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump doesn’t want Newsom or anyone else getting involved with this issue, which has seen some forms of AI encourage children toward unhealthy eating, other self-destructive behaviors and even suicide.
—
Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
In the most compelling parts of the book, Vanzant writes candidly about herself as a mother frantically trying to save her youngest daughter Nisa from self-destructive patterns.
—Essence, 29 Dec. 2025
Their tension has left an opening for Eight (Linnea Berthelsen) to convince Eleven to partake in her own self-destructive plan heading into the finale.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
Marty isn’t getting mixed up with criminals and flirting with married actors on a self-destructive impulse, like Adam Sandler’s gambling addict in Uncut Gems or Robert Pattinson’s petty criminal in Good Time, another pulse-quickening Safdie-brothers production.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2025
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Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
In the most compelling parts of the book, Vanzant writes candidly about herself as a mother frantically trying to save her youngest daughter Nisa from self-destructive patterns.
—Essence, 29 Dec. 2025
Their tension has left an opening for Eight (Linnea Berthelsen) to convince Eleven to partake in her own self-destructive plan heading into the finale.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
Marty isn’t getting mixed up with criminals and flirting with married actors on a self-destructive impulse, like Adam Sandler’s gambling addict in Uncut Gems or Robert Pattinson’s petty criminal in Good Time, another pulse-quickening Safdie-brothers production.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-destructive
Cite this Entry
“Self-destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-destructive. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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