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
Content glorifying eating disorders, self-harm, and suicide has been too accessible, and with age restriction barriers being fairly simple to skip around, to pornography too.
—Lauren Coulman, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Crews are upgrading the area of the jail that holds prisoners deemed to be at risk of self-harm.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
My biggest concern around AI friends right now is safety — there are already lawsuits alleging that chatbots nudged kids toward violence or self-harm.
—Anna North, Vox, 22 May 2025
The health department’s 2023-2027 State Suicide Prevention Plan supports various prevention efforts, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and enhancing care for suicide and self-harm within health care and behavioral health clinics.
—Erica Zurek, Twin Cities, 19 May 2025
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Lauren Coulman, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Crews are upgrading the area of the jail that holds prisoners deemed to be at risk of self-harm.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
My biggest concern around AI friends right now is safety — there are already lawsuits alleging that chatbots nudged kids toward violence or self-harm.
—Anna North, Vox, 22 May 2025
The health department’s 2023-2027 State Suicide Prevention Plan supports various prevention efforts, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and enhancing care for suicide and self-harm within health care and behavioral health clinics.
—Erica Zurek, Twin Cities, 19 May 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 28 May. 2025.
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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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