self-harm
noun
: 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.
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
In some cases, inmates who had attempted suicide or engaged in self-harm were restrained for extended periods without sufficient mental health intervention.
—Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Hinshaw and others’ research shows that women with ADHD are significantly more likely to self-harm and attempt suicide than women without ADHD; experience unplanned pregnancies and intimate partner violence; and suffer from major depression.
—Daliah Singer, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 July 2025
The Chinese simply can’t believe their luck: that at the dawn of the electricity-guzzling era of artificial intelligence, the U.S. president and his party have decided to engage in one of the greatest acts of strategic self-harm imaginable.
—Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 9 July 2025
Other state public health laws, regulations, and services protect people who are suicidal from caregivers, medical professionals, and family members who might encourage self-harm, but suspends these protections if a doctor predicts the person has less than six months to live.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-harm
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Hinshaw and others’ research shows that women with ADHD are significantly more likely to self-harm and attempt suicide than women without ADHD; experience unplanned pregnancies and intimate partner violence; and suffer from major depression.
—Daliah Singer, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 July 2025
The Chinese simply can’t believe their luck: that at the dawn of the electricity-guzzling era of artificial intelligence, the U.S. president and his party have decided to engage in one of the greatest acts of strategic self-harm imaginable.
—Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 9 July 2025
Other state public health laws, regulations, and services protect people who are suicidal from caregivers, medical professionals, and family members who might encourage self-harm, but suspends these protections if a doctor predicts the person has less than six months to live.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 7 July 2025
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 23 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
self-harm
noun
: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share