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
This trap is a moderate risk because, though both leaders can gain short-term political value from external toughness, the reality is their economies still need selective cooperation with each other to avoid self-harm.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2026
Chatbots have also been found to nurture delusional beliefs and even lead to self-harm.
—Vana Goblot, The Conversation, 13 May 2026
California requires reminders that the chatbot is an AI, notifications every three hours for users to take a break and a ban on content related to suicide or self-harm.
—IEEE Spectrum, 6 May 2026
Companies should be required to disclose how their algorithms promote content to minors and be held responsible for knowingly amplifying harmful material, including content linked to self-harm, exploitation, or harassment.
—Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-harm
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Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2026
Chatbots have also been found to nurture delusional beliefs and even lead to self-harm.
—Vana Goblot, The Conversation, 13 May 2026
California requires reminders that the chatbot is an AI, notifications every three hours for users to take a break and a ban on content related to suicide or self-harm.
—IEEE Spectrum, 6 May 2026
Companies should be required to disclose how their algorithms promote content to minors and be held responsible for knowingly amplifying harmful material, including content linked to self-harm, exploitation, or harassment.
—Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 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 17 May. 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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