SINCE 1828
self-mutilation
noun
self-mu·ti·la·tion
| \ ˌself-ˌmyü-tə-ˈlā-shən
\
\
Definition of self-mutilation
: the act of inflicting injury or disfigurement to one's own body
The original wound reopened and became dangerously infected, and yet this classic display of canine self-mutilation continued. — Dog Watch But there seem to be, nevertheless, very few cases of actual cowardice. Of these, the majority involve self-mutilation by conscripts, in an attempt to be invalided out of the Army.— Carey Schofield … a Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Tuesday ordered the state to pay for the private care of a 19-year- old man suffering from a rare neurological disorder that prompts violent bouts of self-mutilation.— Claudia Puig
specifically
: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism : self-harm
… the terrible incidence of self-mutilation, or cutting, particularly among young girls. — Judy Quinn
Other Words from self-mutilation
self-mutilate
\ ˌself-ˈmyü-tə-ˌlāt
\
intransitive verb
self-mutilated;
self-mutilating;
self-mutilates
\
intransitive verb
self-mutilated;
self-mutilating;
self-mutilates
self-mutilating behavior
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More Definitions for self-mutilation
self-mutilation
noun
English Language Learners Definition of self-mutilation
medical
: the act of wounding yourself on purpose especially because you are mentally ill
See the full definition for self-mutilation in the English Language Learners Dictionary
self-mutilation
noun
self-mu·ti·la·tion
| \ -ˌmyüt-ə-ˈlā-shən
\
\
Medical Definition of self-mutilation
: injury or disfigurement of oneself
self-mutilation associated with the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome
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