self-harm
noun
: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism
An acute change in mood that persists for weeks or is associated with thoughts of self-harm should not be ignored.—
John Williamson
John Williamsoncalled also self-injury, self-mutilation
self-harm
intransitive verb
self-harmed; self-harming; self-harms
teenagers who self-harm
Examples of self-harm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On Wednesday, the Senate passed a bulky bill focused on AI regulation that would, among other things, require chatbots that can simulate human-like interactions to include a method for detecting expressions of self-harm or suicidal thoughts, and direct people to mental health resources.
—Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026
Lyons noted Gillum has a history of self-harm.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Talk to me a little bit about how Santos’ own experience with addiction and self-harm colors her relationship with Langdon.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2026
Victims targeted worldwide Members of these networks reportedly target vulnerable victims to engage in self-harm, create CSAM, commit acts of animal cruelty, exploit siblings, and, in some cases, encourage suicide attempts, according to the FBI.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-harm
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Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026
Lyons noted Gillum has a history of self-harm.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Talk to me a little bit about how Santos’ own experience with addiction and self-harm colors her relationship with Langdon.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2026
Victims targeted worldwide Members of these networks reportedly target vulnerable victims to engage in self-harm, create CSAM, commit acts of animal cruelty, exploit siblings, and, in some cases, encourage suicide attempts, according to the FBI.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-harm
Cite this Entry
“Self-harm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-harm. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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self-harm
noun
: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism
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