self-harm

noun

ˌself-ˈhärm 

: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism

Although most cutters are young women who have been emotionally, sexually, or physically abused as children, [Marilee] Strong's research shows that this specific type of self-harm also appears in other groups.

—Maria Simson et al.

called 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

Instead, its authors rely on misrepresentation of outdated studies to deflect from decades of research linking common-sense interventions to a 60 percent reduction in rates of depression and a 73 percent reduction in self-harm and suicidality. —MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025

One requires that chatbot companions disclose interactions that are AI generated, and another requires that platforms establish protocols to address users who express thoughts of suicide or self-harm. —Ted Johnson, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2025

According to Parents Together's Shelby Knox, many chatbots suggested violence, including self-harm and harm to others, or the use of drugs and alcohol. —Brit McCandless Farmer, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025

The idea of blocking states from regulating AI has received broad pushback in recent months amid a string of reports highlighting risks of the technology causing delusions or contributing to self-harm among users, or exposing children to sexualized, adult material. —Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 8 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-harm

• alarm
• disarm
• forearm
• gendarme
• nonfarm
• rearm
• arm
• charm
• farm
• harm
• firearm
• underarm

Kids Definition

self-harm

noun

ˌself-ˈhärm 

: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism