self-inflicted

adjective

self-in·​flict·​ed ˌself-in-ˈflik-təd How to pronounce self-inflicted (audio)
: inflicted or caused by oneself
a self-inflicted wound
His staff problems are self-inflicted, the product of his poor judgment and bad choices.The Guardian (United Kingdom)

Examples of self-inflicted 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.
Watching back each of the cards Chelsea have been shown under Maresca in the Premier League (115 yellow and four red), many feel self-inflicted. Simon Johnson, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 And upon further reflection, a good number of them turned out to be self-inflicted. Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025 But some of those wounds have been self-inflicted. Max Tani, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025 Some of Rite Aid’s financial woes were self-inflicted, as retail expert Peter Cohan, an associate professor of management practice at Babson College, previously told the Washington Examiner that corporate mismanagement played a large role. Callie Patteson, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-inflicted

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-inflicted was in 1600

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Cite this Entry

“Self-inflicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-inflicted. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

self-inflicted

adjective
self-in·​flict·​ed
ˌsel-fin-ˈflik-təd
: inflicted by oneself
a self-inflicted wound

Medical Definition

self-inflicted

adjective
self-in·​flict·​ed -in-ˈflik-təd How to pronounce self-inflicted (audio)
: inflicted by oneself
a self-inflicted wound

More from Merriam-Webster on self-inflicted

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