: 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
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.
Williams has worked on a step-by-step process that offers helpful support for those who just need to vent, as well as resources for those who may need immediate support for more serious issues, including thoughts of self-harm. Essence, 23 July 2025 Black Sabbath was so dark, so unholy, that the band’s songs inspired murders and self-harm. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2025 The Miami Herald report found that out of 182 fatalities, 41 percent were ruled suicides by local medical examiners, contradicting earlier company claims that the majority of the deaths were intentional acts of self-harm. Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025 Fall River Police were dispatched to 117 Langley St., at roughly 1:37 a.m. Tuesday for reports of an armed man inside that residence who was making statements of self-harm. Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-harm

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-harm was in 1983

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Cite this Entry

“Self-harm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-harm. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

self-harm

noun
: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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