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.
But that fizzle was self-inflicted by the president. Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 9 May 2025 Brand execs are always blind-sided when ad campaigns blow up in their faces, but the pain is usually self-inflicted. Greg Petro, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025 Grant was taken to a hospital in critical condition with injuries investigators believe may have been self-inflicted. David Matthews, New York Daily News, 6 May 2025 Now, those risks are front and center again, self-inflicted by President Trump’s ham-handed and chaotic tariff plan. Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-inflicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-inflicted. Accessed 23 May. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!