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

Warning signs of dating violence among teenagers include isolation, excessive messaging and attention, jealousy, name-calling, physical abuse and threats of self-harm or homicide, according to Burch. —Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 16 Aug. 2025

In particular, lawsuits have alleged that child users with developmental disabilities and mental health issues have formed unhealthy attachments to chatbots that have influenced the children to become violent, begin self-harming, or, in one disturbing case, die by suicide. —Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2025

Officials in Arizona school districts who've discussed monitoring software in public have praised its ability to detect self-harm risks. —Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 13 Aug. 2025

Please be aware that the following discusses information pertaining to self-harm, eating disorders, and suicide. —De Elizabeth, Parents, 13 Aug. 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