self-inflicted

adjective

self-in·​flict·​ed ˌself-in-ˈflik-təd 

: 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

The two officers then fired their weapons at Collier, who was found in the back of his vehicle dead with three gunshot wounds, including one that was self-inflicted, according to the DA's office. —Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026

And in today’s economy, Wherry said consumers should try to move away from the mindset that financial hardship is self-caused or self-inflicted. —William Tong, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026

Travelers like to blame their airline, car rental company or hotel for their terrible trip, but there seems to be a growing consensus that many of the troubles are self-inflicted. —Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026

Calvert-Lewin’s miss was entirely self-inflicted, of course, but the manner of Gudmundsson’s dismissal — the injustice of it — can poison a team’s collective temperament. —Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-inflicted

• contradicted
• interdicted
• unrestricted
• addicted
• afflicted
• conflicted
• constricted
• convicted
• depicted
• evicted
• inflicted
• predicted

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 

: inflicted by oneself

a self-inflicted wound