self-punishment
noun
self-pun·ish·ment
ˌself-ˈpə-nish-mənt 
: the act of punishing oneself
Leaving early to train for an Ironman triathlon—a masterwork of self-punishment—is, however, deeply respected.—
Kyle Smith
Kyle SmithLife was hard enough on me without adding the burden of additional self-punishment.—Ann Finnie
Ann FinnieExamples of self-punishment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Peppers dropped to do pushups on the sideline as a form of self-punishment after dropping Maye's only incompletion.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 July 2025
In a religious context, disability was often seen as a punishment from God or a way to test one’s sense of repentance via self-punishment.
—Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 16 May 2025
The film follows a man living in self-punishment after a fatal car accident who finds redemption through his relationship with his deceased friend’s young son.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 Jan. 2025
The effort to exonerate herself in her own mind leads her to rituals of exertion and self-punishment.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2024
Sure, the average man probably wouldn’t eat an entire bar of soap in the middle of a group hang as a form of self-punishment for violating bro code, but who among us doesn’t want to be accepted?
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2024
There was a quality of self-punishment to these actions.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2024
As Chung seeks a way to grieve without self-punishment, this open-hearted, unflinching account will be a boon to others.
—Barbara Vandenburgh, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2023
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Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 July 2025
In a religious context, disability was often seen as a punishment from God or a way to test one’s sense of repentance via self-punishment.
—Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 16 May 2025
The film follows a man living in self-punishment after a fatal car accident who finds redemption through his relationship with his deceased friend’s young son.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 Jan. 2025
The effort to exonerate herself in her own mind leads her to rituals of exertion and self-punishment.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2024
Sure, the average man probably wouldn’t eat an entire bar of soap in the middle of a group hang as a form of self-punishment for violating bro code, but who among us doesn’t want to be accepted?
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2024
There was a quality of self-punishment to these actions.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2024
As Chung seeks a way to grieve without self-punishment, this open-hearted, unflinching account will be a boon to others.
—Barbara Vandenburgh, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Self-punishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-punishment. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
self-punishment
noun
self-pun·ish·ment
-ˈpən-ish-mənt
: punishment of oneself
masochistic self-punishment
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